Lewis Hamilton has reunited with his previous long-time performance coach Angela Cullen ahead of his debut campaign in Formula 1 with new team Ferrari in 2025.
Cullen became Hamilton’s physiotherapist back in 2016 and proved to be a close confidant as he won four straight titles from 2017 to become a seven-time F1 champion.
However, the duo announced in March 2023 that Cullen was to depart her role, a season which proceeded to mark Hamilton’s second straight campaign without a win.
But Cullen will now again be involved in Hamilton’s backroom team, linking up with the Project 44 organisation that was set up to help oversee the F1 driver’s endeavours.
The New Zealander will act as Hamilton’s physio, but her involvement will also extend to the performance team that Race Director Marc Hynes has headed since last season.
Speculation had circulated that Cullen, who has since worked with Marcus Armstrong in IndyCar, could return to Hamilton’s side when both posted photos in the mountains.
There was no indication that the pair were on the same visit, but Cullen fuelled the rumours with a flag bearing the number 44, Hamilton’s race number, in the background.
Hamilton has embarked on his Ferrari journey
Hamilton’s well-renowned plate will be seen on a scarlet red car in 2025 as he makes his much-anticipated debut with Ferrari, having opted to end his partnership with Mercedes.
The Briton began his new venture on Monday, meeting Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur and CEO Benedetto Vigna prior to being shown around all of the departments.
Hamilton will conduct his opening appearance in a Ferrari later this week as he is scheduled to sample the team’s 2023 car, the SF-23, around its Fiorano test track.
As he undergoes the second team change in his career, Hamilton will at least have another recognisable individual to depend on as he acclimatises to a new environment.
Cullen and Hamilton are believed to have remained in contact in the interim period, something that the latter insisted would be the case when the split was communicated.
“Angela is living her life right now,” Hamilton said at the time. “She’s got so many ideas of things she wants to do. We message pretty much every day.
“We are still going to skydive together. We are always going to be in each other’s lives.
“We’re stuck with each other, unfortunately, or fortunately! We’ve been through thick and thin. I am grateful our relationship is as good as it is.
“We’ve probably had one of the longest relationships I would say in the sport. I am incredibly grateful for her, I love her dearly.”
READ MORE – Lewis Hamilton realising ‘dream’ with first day he’ll ‘remember forever’ at Ferrari
Discussion about this post