Lewis Hamilton has explained his revised support team structure and that former physiotherapist Angela Cullen’s role is now split between two people at Formula 1 races.
Cullen, who was a key member of Hamilton’s support team as a physiotherapist and assistant, quit her role at the start of the season.
His role is now shared between two new physiotherapists, although much of Hamilton’s support network behind the scenes remains the same.
Hamilton and Cullen are keeping in touch to plan “the next fun adventure”, and the seven-time world champion added that he hopes they could potentially climb Mount Everest together in the future.
“I have a slightly different setup, [Angela’s old] role is shared between two individuals,” he explained.
“The rest of my team is the same. Ange and I were talking the other day, we keep in touch quite regularly.
“We’re always going to be in each other’s lives, always looking forward to the next fun adventure, whether it’s skydiving, climbing Mount Everest together at some point, probably – who knows. And keep on going. support each other on our journeys.
“The setup I have at the moment is brilliant. One of the guys – Steve-O – has been with me since my first race at McLaren, he also came here when I moved from McLaren to here as a technician gearbox. And then he moved on to several different roles and he’s helping me right now.
“Otherwise I work with someone on my training, she’s there Kylie. And then I also have Santi here, I have Penni. I have a great support structure.”
Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG, on the grid with Angela Cullen, Physiotherapist, Mercedes AMG
Photo by: Simon Galloway / Motorsport Images
Asked about his longevity in F1, Hamilton explained that while much of his ability to continue to perform in the championship was down to training and diet, he felt the willingness to continue making sacrifices was also very helpful.
He added that, compared to his earlier years in the Championship, he feels much more adept at prioritizing recovery between races – especially with the support of the fitness staff around him.
“My recovery is better because I’m more focused on recovery than I have ever been before,” he said.
“When I was 22, I wasn’t focused on recovery. I didn’t even know anything about recovery. I was just coming home, probably eating pizza, not knowing what to do next. the following day.
“For recovery, I had no specialists around me to help me find my way around.
“I had a physio, but we didn’t do a lot. We trained together, we swam together, but otherwise I didn’t have all the details on how you want to eat, how to redo the full fluid you lose, you stretch, all these different things.
“I wasn’t doing that at the time. But I mean, I don’t know if those riders at the time were as fit, so they probably crashed more than us because we train a lot more than them. at the time.”
