Two new recruits join Lewis Hamilton’s revamped support team as Angela Cullen’s replacement

Following Angela Cullen's departure, the role has been taken up by two different people and Lewis Hamilton is still in contact with her

Cullen Angela and Lewis Hamilton (Credits: Planet F1)

Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula One world champion, has revealed that his support team has undergone a significant reshuffle following the departure of his former physiotherapist, Angela Cullen. Cullen, who played an instrumental role in Hamilton’s career, left the team at the start of the 2023 season, leaving Hamilton without his long-time assistant and friend.

The role of Angela Cullen has been taken over by two different people, and Hamilton is taking it positively with the change. “I have a slightly different setup, [Angela’s old] role is shared between two individuals. One of the guys – Steve-O – has been with me since my first race at McLaren; he also came here when I moved from McLaren to here as my gearbox technician,” said Hamilton.

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Although Cullen’s departure was a significant loss for Lewis Hamilton, he revealed that they remain in contact and always look forward to their next adventure. “Ange and I was talking just the other day, we stay in contact quite consistently. We’re always going to be in each other’s lives, always looking forward to the next fun adventure, whether it be skydiving, whether it be climbing Mount Everest together at some stage, probably – who knows. And just continuing to support each other in our journeys,” he said.

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Lewis Hamilton has a better recovery system now and is hoping to end his winless streak soon

Lewis Hamilton with his team at the 2021 Saudi Arabian GP, his last race win to date (Credits: The Guardian)

Hamilton, on the other hand, has not raced since the 2021 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix, which was nearly 16 months ago. His Mercedes team is also not operating at the level it was during the turbo hybrid era, making the season challenging for the champion, who is vying for his eighth title. Cullen was an important element of Hamilton’s support system, and her unexpected departure had a big impact on him. The seven-time champion had stayed mute about what had caused her to go, and losing not just his trainer but also a buddy had a significant impact on him.

He added that he didn’t have specialists around him back then to help him navigate recovery, unlike now. Hamilton’s team has helped him prioritize recovery between races and stay focused on his training and diet. “My recovery’s better because I’m more focused on recovery than I ever was before. When I was 22, I wasn’t focused on recovery. I didn’t even know anything about recovery.” said Hamilton.

#F1: Lewis Hamilton and Angela Cullen, his long-time right hand are going separate ways.

I can confirm that any drama and speculation around it is FALSE. This was an amicable and mutual decision, Angela has family of her own and has dedicated a very huge part of her life to F1. pic.twitter.com/S5ISDGOrbe
— deni (@fiagirly) March 17, 2023

Hamilton also discussed his longevity in Formula One, claiming that much of his sustained ability to succeed in the championship was down to training and nutrition, but he also believed that his willingness to continue to make sacrifices served him well. Angela Cullen’s resignation from Lewis Hamilton’s support crew has had a huge influence on him, although he has adjusted to the adjustments brought about by her absence.