Even without 'Bono', Mercedes have depth to win with Hamilton

Even without his loyal and dependable race engineer, Peter Bonnington, Lewis Hamilton and his Mercedes team on Sunday demonstrated a flair for conjuring victories out of unpromising situations and a strength in depth unmatched by their rivals.

In claiming his 10th win of the season and the 83rd of his career, to move within eight of Michael Schumacher's record 91 victories, Hamilton overcame both his own doubts about his chances at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez and those of his team.

Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff had described the high-altitude challenge as representing the team's worst of the season before the race -- but left Mexico City with a broad grin of near-amazement.

Without 'Bono' nearby to talk him through testing moments in an unpredictable contest, this had looked a more than tricky assignment for the defending five-time champion. The unflappable engineer was back in Britain for a medical procedure that will see him also miss this week's United States Grand Prix where Hamilton is likely to claim his sixth world title.

In Mexico, Mercedes shuffled their technical pack, did their homework, took a few calculated risks and won with a strategic flourish, thanks to chief tactician James Vowles. Marcus Dudley, filling in for Bono, "stepped up to the plate", said Hamilton, while his replacement as performance engineer Dom Riefstahl also shone.

"Bono has been with me for seven years, so it's the longest working relationship that I've had with an engineer," said Hamilton.

"It definitely feels weird coming knowing that we've experienced so much together and achieved so much together, but he's here with us in spirit and he's worked so hard, along with Marcus, who has done a fantastic job."
- Century up for Mercedes -
"You both did. Thank you."
"He (Dudley) did a phenomenal job. It's not easy, managing Lewis in the race, but it shows that we have a strength - a deep strength - in the team."
"So I am excited and who knows if we can get the job done."