Angela Cullen spent many years as one of Lewis Hamilton's most trusted aides
Lewis Hamilton’s former trainer Anglela Cullen has spoken out on her exit Mercedes last year – revealing she initially retired from motorsports before linking up with IndyCar earlier this year.
Cullen worked with Hamilton in F1 for seven years and was thought to be one of the key factors behind the British racer winning five titles in six years between 2015 and 2020, acting as his physiotherapist and one of his most trusted allies.
However, last year it was announced Cullen would be leaving Mercedes – before being spotted working with another racer at IndyCar in early 2024, her fellow New Zealander Marcus Armstrong.
However, last year it was announced Cullen would be leaving Mercedes – before being spotted working with another racer at IndyCar in early 2024, her fellow New Zealander Marcus Armstrong.
Speaking out on her decision to leave F1 and move into Indycar, Cullen claimed she was initially going to retire from working in motorsports before finding a new lease of life with IndyCar.
“When I left Formula One, I thought I was moving away from motorsports,” she told the IndyCar Series YouTube channel. I retired, actually. I took a year off last year and then I connected with Marcus Armstrong. I just worked with him on mental skills and things in the background. In the off season I was sponsored by SOS Hydration, which he was sponsored by too.
“[Armstrong] said ‘do you want to come to a race?’ I said ‘I’d love to come out’. IndyCar just hit me. It is so fun. I just fell in love with it. The racing’s incredible, the drivers are incredible. I arrived and I haven’t left.
She went on to explain how working in F1 as her first job in motorsports gave her a “huge learning curve”, adding: “I came into motorsport and I went straight to Formula One. I worked for Lewis Hamilton with Mercedes Benz for seven years. It was a huge learning curve for me, not only was I learning about the sport but the demands of motorsport on the drivers.”
Announcing their split in March 2023, Cullen initially wrote about the British star: “It’s been such an honour and pleasure to stand alongside you. I’m so proud of you and everything you have achieved. Thank you for supporting me, believing in me and showing me the limitless potential we all have within us. I am so excited to watch the next chapter for you. There’s nothing you can’t do.”
Hamilton recently spoke of how he still messages Cullen “every day” despite her exit and said he was “incredibly grateful” to her for the support she gave him.
“We’re stuck with each other, unfortunately, or fortunately!” he said. “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.”
Hamilton has since replaced Cullen with two people – his ex-team race co-ordinator Stephen Lord and talent manager Penni Thow, with both staff members sharing her old responsibilities.
