In a sport like Formula 1, the relationships you build and the people you have around you have a big impact on track. This is exactly why we’ve seen that behind every successful F1 driver’s legacy is that one person who’s stuck by them, in whatever capacity. Michael Schumacher had Corinna, his wife. Ayrton Senna had Ron Dennis, who even went against his own driver, Alain Prost, in the pursuit of Senna’s ’89 legacy. And for 7x champion, Lewis Hamilton, it was his personal trainer and close confidante, Angela Cullen.
Cullen, 48, has been through hell and back with Hamilton. Over the years, they had shared many victories, but also crippling defeats. But as all good things come to an end, so did their partnership. Recently, Hamilton had announced via his social media account that Cullen and he were parting ways. In the post, Hamilton said that Cullen had decided to leave the team to pursue other things. However, a sinister plot twist arrived, as Toto Wolff supposedly revealed that it was, in fact, Hamilton and not Cullen who had decided the fate of the relationship.
ICYMI: Angela Cullen, Lewis Hamilton's physiotherapist and confidante is set to leave his team after 7 years. #F1 #SaudiArabianGP pic.twitter.com/wsaYcPzcKV
— AnythingF1 (@AnythingF1_) March 18, 2023
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Anyhow, it would appear that the dust on their mysterious split hasn’t settled yet. In an Instagram story, Cullen reposted a prose that seemed to be tilted towards her split with the 38-year-old Silver Arrows driver.
The post read, “Does my past control the future?” asked Tiny Dragon.”It doesn’t have to,” said Big Panda. It’s you who steers the boat, not the wake it leaves behind.”
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A lot has been made of this unexpected break-up. But what exactly led to this situation?
Lewis Hamilton and Angela Cullen just weren’t working out anymore
When it was supposed that it was Hamilton who had let Cullen go, fans were enraged at the apparent lack of loyalty. But if Wolff’s words are anything to go by, there was a deeper, more concerning reason why Hamilton took this drastic step.
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Autosport quoted him as saying, “I think in every team, whether that is his close circle, or also in the wider group, this is not a static situation that you can freeze, because we all develop as people. We develop as an organization and, if things don’t work out anymore, then we need to be honest about it and then bring change.”
But Wolff has decided to extend support to his driver rather than his ex-employee. “Angela will always be a mascot of the team. She’s the only one who has a louder voice than a starting car! But, if this is what [Hamilton] decides, we will always absolutely support him, whatever direction he wants to take.”
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Do you think Hamilton has unsettled the balance of his own ecosystem in a desperate bid to regain his past glories?