Hamilton explains origins of Bono's 'hammer time' radio call

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Lewis Hamilton has shed light on how Mercedes race engineer Peter Bonnington's famous "it's hammer time" radio call came about.

The long-standing relationship between Hamilton and 'Bono' started in 2013, the Briton's first season with Mercedes.

In 2014, Hamilton charged to his first world title with the Brackley squad, and Bono's famous battle cry urging his driver to push to the max was first heard that season.

Amid Hamilton and Mercedes dominance, the call was frequently heard over the team's airwaves at strategic moments of any given race.

But this year's challenging campaign left Bonnington with no opportunities to energise his driver with their signature call, inspired by MC Hammer’s 1990 song 'U Can’t Touch This'.

However, the "hammer time" call was heard once again over the airwaves at the US Grand Prix in Austin, when Hamilton was urged to pull out the stops in the closing stages of the race behind leader Max Verstappen.

"I think I came up with hammer time," explained Hamilton when asked about the origins of the call.

"There was a point where he was like, ‘now is the time to push,’ and I got frustrated with him because I was like, ‘dude, I’m already pushing!’

"But I was like, if you're trying to signify now’s the time to go all out, use everything you have, I said just tell me it’s hammer time. That was part of our growth.

Read also: Hamilton sees 'no limit' to his future at Mercedes

"I’m incredibly grateful for Bono, I’ve had an amazing journey with him. I think we’ve got one of the longest, if not the longest driver-engineer partnership that there’s been.

"He’s been hugely integral to my success."

Indeed the pair have shared 82 race wins together since 2013 and many high and low points over their ten-year period together as they "supported each other on and off the track in good and bad times".

"He’s probably one of the few people that can truly stand me, I would say, like on the good and bad days," said Hamilton.

"How calm he’s able to be throughout the race, and how he’s been able to guide and help navigate me through a race, I don’t think there’s many people who could do that."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.