Hamilton says engineer Bonnington 'like a brother'

Lewis Hamilton says he would person liked title technologist Peter Bonnington to subordinate him astatine Ferrari adjacent twelvemonth if it had been possible.

The seven-time champion said Bonnington, who has been pinch Hamilton passim his 12-year profession astatine Mercedes, was "like a brother".

But he accepted that moving to Italy was not nan correct prime for Bonnington - besides known arsenic 'Bono' - who has go good known arsenic nan sound who speaks to Hamilton during races.

"I would person emotion to person continued pinch Bono," Hamilton said.

"We person a awesome relationship, but I'm really happy for him. It's astir doing whatever's champion for you."

Bonnington has been promoted to caput of title engineering. He will proceed pinch Hamilton for nan remainder of this play earlier nan Briton's move to Maranello, and will besides enactment arsenic as a title technologist for 1 of Mercedes' drivers adjacent year.

George Russell's statement continues to nan extremity of 2025 and nan Briton is expected to beryllium joined by Mercedes' Italian protege Andrea Kimi Antonelli, who is racing successful Formula 2 this season.

Hamilton said: "Packing up and leaving, I tin only ideate it would impact some him and his partner, truthful he had to do immoderate is correct for him.

"I knew it would beryllium an improbable script he would spell pinch maine because it's specified a drastic alteration successful his life. But I'm really happy nan squad person acknowledged and made changes truthful he tin turn more.

"He will beryllium capable to show group nan awesome things he tin do. But we are going to beryllium family forever. We person spoken astir it and we conscionable want to extremity connected a high."

Hamilton spent nan summertime break touring astir respective countries successful Africa and said it was overdue for F1 to big a title connected nan continent.

The past clip F1 held a expansive prix successful Africa was astatine nan 1993 South African Grand Prix, erstwhile nan state was still nether nan racist apartheid strategy of government.

The way which hosted that event, Kyalami adjacent Johannesburg, was successful talks pinch F1 astir reviving nan title a fewer years agone but negotiations collapsed down.

Hamilton said: "We can't beryllium adding races and conscionable continuing to disregard Africa, which nan remainder of nan world conscionable takes from.

"There is simply a immense magnitude of activity [that] needs to beryllium done there. A batch of nan world who haven't been location don't realise really beautiful nan spot is, really immense is.

"And they astir apt don't cognize what nan (developed) countries are doing to those places successful position of holding them back."

Hamilton said a expansive prix would person a affirmative effect connected nan continent.

"Having a expansive prix location would item really awesome nan spot is and bring successful tourism. Why are we not connected that continent?

"The existent excuse is that possibly location is not a way that's ready. But location is astatine slightest 1 way fresh there. In nan short term, we should get connected that way and person it portion of nan almanac and past activity connected building up thing else.”

F1 president Stefano Domenicali has said he is successful talks pinch Rwanda astir a imaginable title there.

Hamilton said: "Rwanda is 1 of my favourite places I've been to. I've done a batch of activity successful nan background. I've spoken to group successful Rwanda. I've spoken to group successful South Africa. But that's a longer project, Rwanda."