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.
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.
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“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.”
Lewis Hamilton’s former trainer Angela Cullen was thought to be integral to the racer’s success.
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.”
Angela Cullen, former trainer and physiotherapist for Lewis Hamilton, recently shared insights into her departure from Mercedes and her transition to IndyCar. After working with Hamilton for seven years and contributing to his remarkable success, Cullen initially planned to retire from motorsports. However, she found renewed enthusiasm for the sport through her work with IndyCar driver Marcus Armstrong.
Cullen reflected on her experience in F1, describing it as a significant learning curve that helped her understand the intense demands of motorsports on drivers. Her collaboration with Armstrong began with mental skills training and eventually led to her attending races, rekindling her passion for motorsport.
Despite leaving F1, Cullen’s respect and admiration for Hamilton remain evident. Upon announcing their split in March 2023, she expressed pride in Hamilton’s achievements and gratitude for their time together, highlighting the strong bond they shared during their tenure at Mercedes.