Lewis Hamilton has officially welcomed back his long-time physiotherapist and confidante, Angela Cullen, in a move that will provide both emotional and professional support as he embarks on a new chapter in his career. The seven-time F1 world champion expressed his excitement at her return, emphasising the deep-rooted trust and bond they have built over the years. Indeed for many, the return of Cullen is likened to the return of Hamilton’s ‘Ex’.

Hamilton spoke openly to Sky Sports about the significance of Cullen’s re-signing, making it clear that her presence in his team is about more than just fitness and performance. Cullen was an integral part of Hamilton’s dominant years at Mercedes from 2016 to 2023, and her departure in 2022 left a notable void. Now, with Hamilton’s high-profile move to Ferrari, her return marks a crucial moment in his career transition.

“It’s always important to have a good base of people around you,” Hamilton said in Bahrain on Thursday. “I’ve generally had a very good base for many, many years. I’ve still got the same team I had last year, but I’ve brought Angie in. We have a great relationship between Angie and myself.

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A bond forged over the years

Hamilton and Cullen’s professional relationship developed into a strong friendship during their years together. Cullen’s unexpected departure from his team in 2022 surprised many in the F1 paddock, as she had been a constant presence by his side, managing his physiotherapy, recovery and mental preparation.

Reflecting on their journey, Hamilton acknowledged the impact of their time apart. “We’ve known each other a long time,” he said. “We have been through a lot together. She took a couple of years off to spend time with her family and explore the world. Asking her to start this new chapter with me and her acceptance was pretty exciting.

For Hamilton, Cullen’s return is more than a nostalgic reunion. It is a strategic decision to ensure he has familiar and trusted support as he navigates the challenges of adapting to Ferrari’s environment, a new car and a very different team dynamic.

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Romance between Hamilton and Cullen

Speculation about a possible romance between Angela Cullen and Lewis Hamilton has persisted for years, fuelled by their close professional relationship and the undeniable chemistry they shared during their time together at Mercedes. While both have always maintained that their bond is purely professional and based on mutual trust and respect, Cullen’s return to Hamilton’s inner circle has reignited whispers in the paddock.

To some, her re-signing feels like an ‘ex’ coming back into his life, a reunion that is almost poetic given the timing of his high-profile move to Ferrari. The dynamic between the two – once a fixture of Hamilton’s most dominant years – now takes on a new narrative, with fans and media alike speculating whether their relationship extends beyond the track.

For Hamilton, however, Cullen’s return is likely to be more about stability and familiarity at a time of significant change than anything romantic. But in the world of F1, where personal and professional lives often intertwine, the rumours are unlikely to die down any time soon.

 

 

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Cullen’s role in Hamilton’s transition

As Hamilton prepares for his first season with Ferrari, every aspect of his physical and mental conditioning is under the microscope. Cullen’s expertise in physiotherapy, combined with her deep understanding of Hamilton’s training regimen and competitive mindset, will be instrumental in helping him make a seamless transition.

Cullen’s return suggests that Hamilton is keen to maintain continuity amidst the massive changes in his career. Her presence will be particularly valuable as he fine-tunes his approach to Ferrari’s SF-25, a car that requires a different driving style and approach to what he was used to at Mercedes.

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Testing and first impressions of the SF-25

Hamilton is already deep into pre-season testing in Bahrain, where he is concentrating on understanding the intricacies of the Ferrari SF-25. While he remains cautious about making any early judgements, his first impressions of the car are promising.

“We’re testing a lot of things,” said Hamilton. “So I’m not really interested in changing the set-up or steering the car where I want it to go. We’re just doing what we have to do. Today was more about exploring my interaction with my engineer. So far I’m really enjoying driving this car.

At 40, Hamilton is entering a season that could define the second half of his career. The move to Ferrari, a team rich in history but without a championship since 2007, is both an opportunity and a challenge. Having Cullen back in his corner suggests that Hamilton is assembling the best possible team around him to maximise his chances of success.

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A symbolic and strategic decision

Hamilton’s decision to bring Cullen back underlines the importance of stability and trust as he embarks on one of the biggest transitions of his career. With Ferrari’s ambitious goals for the season, having someone who understands his needs – both physically and mentally – could be a key factor in his performance.

For fans, Cullen’s return will be a familiar sight, a reminder of Hamilton’s most dominant years. But for Hamilton himself, it is a strategic move, ensuring that as he adjusts to a new team and car, at least one aspect of his preparation remains unchanged.

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MORE F1 NEWS – Testing data deep dive: The F1 pecking order is emerging

Of course testing is just testing and teams run different levels of fuel together with different power unit settings, yet there are aspects of the various kinds of runs the teams choose to make which give a much firmer kind of data.

Red Bull were handicapped by a water pressure problem which saw Liam Lawson miss out on some of the track time on day 2. Further, the team did not perform any long run race simulations which may be left to Max Verstappen tomorrow.

Yet in the afternoon McLaren (Lando Norris), Ferrari (Charles Leclerc) and Mercedes (Kimi Antonelli) all performed a number of race simulation long runs.

The headline from the data is that across a 57 lap Grand Prix in Bahrain,  Lando Norris was an enormous 32.3 seconds ahead of Leclerc, with Antonelli a further 2.4 seconds behind.

The first thing to remember when considering Mercedes is that Kimi Antonelli being a rookie would probably be slower than George Russell and so the numbers from the Mercedes runs may well be…READ MORE ON THIS STORY