“Can’t Let Anyone Say Hammer Time”: Lewis Hamilton Gives First Task to His Ferrari Race Engineer

Lewis Hamilton’s “Hammer time” war cry, made famous by race engineer Peter Bonnington, has become synonymous with the British legend’s competitive edge over the years. So, when his departure from Mercedes was announced, many wondered if it would mark the end of the iconic call.

Bonnington would often remind Hamilton that it was “Hammer time”, particularly during pit stop phases and the closing stages of a race. It was the engineer’s way of telling the seven-time World Champion that they needed him to push harder. Bonnington, however, won’t be Hamilton’s aide from next season at Ferrari.

After his final race with Mercedes in Abu Dhabi earlier this month, Hamilton had stated that he wouldn’t let anyone else use Bonnington’s call with him. He is seeking a replacement phrase.

“I can’t let anybody else say Hammer time to me, so I have to come up with some other name, some other word,” the 39-year-old said.

That would probably be the first task for Hamilton‘s new race engineer at Ferrari. He will have to come up with a phrase that would signal not just the need for urgency, but also capture the imagination of the F1 world.

New chapter and new engineer in Hamilton’s career

At Ferrari, Hamilton’s race engineer will be Riccardo Adami, who was working with Carlos Sainz in the past four years. The Italian is no stranger to working with world championship-caliber drivers, having been Sebastian Vettel’s voice during his tenure at Ferrari.

Living up to Hamilton’s iconic partnership with Bonnington will be no easy task, though. Together, they formed an unstoppable force at Mercedes. Bonnington guided Hamilton to six of his Drivers’ Championships and 84 race victories.

Their collaboration wasn’t just professional — it was deeply personal, built on trust and mutual respect cultivated over more than a decade.

The origin and legacy of ‘Hammer time’

The phrase “Hammer time” originated from the British driver’s frustration during his first year at Mercedes, in 2013. Bono would tell him to push during critical moments. But Hamilton, already driving at the limit, wanted a phrase that signaled the need for maximum attack.

Inspired by MC Hammer’s hit song, ‘U Can’t Touch This’, and his own driver designation, ‘HAM’, Lewis suggested that Bono use “Hammer time” instead. Over the years, it became a hallmark of their race-day strategy and, by some accounts, one of the most feared team radio phrases in F1.

Beyond the radio calls and race victories, Bono stood by Hamilton during the highs and lows, becoming a friend and by Hamilton’s own admission, a brother.