Who is Angela Cullen, key to the success of Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton has won four world championships in the last six seasons; and in that same period he added 60 victories and 95 podiums in 121 Grand Prix, dizzying figures.

Obviously, those successes must be attributed to the talent of the seven-time world champion and the work done by the Mercedes team, but there are also those who have worked more or less in the shadows and are responsible for them.

The contribution of Angela Cullen , Hamilton’s true right-hand woman, who manages his physical preparation on a daily basis, is undoubtedly extraordinary. But she is also his confidant and eternal companion. Angela Cullen was born on August 5, 1974 (he is 47 years old), in Devonport, Auckland (New Zealand). She was a professional field hockey player in her country and since 2015 she has worked at Mercedes, since 2016 in her current position with Hamilton.

Angela Cullen is married with two children. She lives in Switzerland, and during the weekends she can be seen aware of absolutely every detail (from the helmet, to the bottle, taking care of her dogs or bringing her the scooter) that surrounds Hamilton, who considers her “a of the best things” that have happened in his life. At Mercedes, he took over at the beginning of 2016 the position left by Marc Hynes , Hamilton’s former right-hand man.

“Of course people won’t understand it because they see it from afar, but she is one of the best things that has ever happened to me,” the British driver said last year on the Formula 1 website.

“I’ve been lucky enough to work with a lot of people, and she is the hardest working woman I know.”

“She is always focused, she is selfless and she makes my weekends calm. Every day when I wake up, at any time, she is positive, she has never been negative for a single day, and that is very important because I think it is fundamental Surround yourself with positive people in life.

“You can’t drag dead weights, you can’t drag people who don’t push you to improve and who don’t push you when things go wrong. You have to surround yourself with people who can do that, and she’s such a person.”

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, with Angela Cullen

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Photo by: Erik Junius

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, with Angela Cullen

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Photo by: Erik Junius

Angela Cullen, Lewis Hamilton’s physio, congratulates Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton on taking pole

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Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

Angela Cullen, Lewis Hamilton’s physio, congratulates Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton on taking pole

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Photo by: Steven Tee / Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes arriving with Angela Cullen

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Angela Cullen

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Photo de: Erik Junius

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes W12, Angela Cullen

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Photo de: Erik Junius

Polesitter for the sprint race Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and Angela Cullen, Lewis Hamilton’s physiotherapist, at the Parc Ferme

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Polesitter for the sprint race Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and Angela Cullen, Lewis Hamilton’s physiotherapist, at the Parc Ferme

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Polesitter for the sprint race Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes and Angela Cullen, Lewis Hamilton’s physiotherapist, at the Parc Ferme

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Angela Cullen, Physical Therapist for Lewis Hamilton

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Photo by: Mark Sutton / Motorsport Images

Angela Cullen, physiotherapist for Lewis Hamilton, and guests in pit lane

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Angela Cullen, Lewis Hamilton’s physiotherapist, and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton on the grid

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Photo by: Steve Etherington/Motorsport Images

Angela Cullen, Lewis Hamilton Physiotherapist with Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

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Photo by: Steve Etherington/Motorsport Images

Angela Cullen, physical therapist to Lewis Hamilton, holds an umbrella over Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

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Photo by: Steve Etherington/Motorsport Images

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton Pole Position Celebrates with Angela Cullen, Lewis Hamilton’s Physiotherapist, and the Merecedes Team

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Photo by: Glenn Dunbar/Motorsport Images

Angela Cullen, fisio de Lewis Hamilton, con Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

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Foto de: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images

Angela Cullen, Lewis Hamilton’s physiotherapist, helps Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton with his hair on the grid

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Photo by: Charles Coates/Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1st position, with Angela Cullen, Lewis Hamilton’s physiotherapist, at Parc Ferme

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Photo by: Steve Etherington/Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton’s physiotherapist Angela Cullen helps Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton with his hair on the grid

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Photo by: Charles Coates/Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton’s physiotherapist Angela Cullen helps Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton with his hair on the grid

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Photo by: Charles Coates/Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton’s physiotherapist Angela Cullen helps Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton with his hair on the grid

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Photo by: Charles Coates/Motorsport Images

Winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, with Toto Wolff, Team Principal and CEO of Mercedes AMG, and Angela Cullen, Physiotherapist after the race

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Photo By: Andy Hone/Motorsport Images

Angela Cullen, Lewis Hamilton’s physical therapist, and the mechanics in the garage

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Photo by: Steve Etherington/Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, with Angela Cullen, physiotherapist

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Photo by: Jerry Andre / Motorsport Images

Angela Cullen, Mercedes

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Photo by: Erik Junius

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Angela Cullen, Lewis Hamilton’s physiotherapist, on the starting grid

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Photo by: Glenn Dunbar/Motorsport Images

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Angela Cullen, a physiotherapist with an engineer

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Photo by: Steve Etherington/Motorsport Images

Angela Cullen, physio for Lewis Hamilton and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Angela Cullen, physio for Lewis Hamilton and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes and Angela Cullen, his physio

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Photo by: Charles Coates/Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes and Angela Cullen, his physio

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Photo by: Charles Coates/Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes and Angela Cullen, his physio

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, con Angela Cullen

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Foto de: Steve Etherington / Motorsport Images

Winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, celebrates with Angela Cullen, Lewis Hamilton’s physiotherapist

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Photo by: Glenn Dunbar/Motorsport Images

Winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, celebrates with Angela Cullen, Lewis Hamilton’s physiotherapist

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Photo by: Glenn Dunbar/Motorsport Images

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Physiotherapist Angela Cullen on the starting grid

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Photo by: Steve Etherington/Motorsport Images

Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton and Physiotherapist Angela Cullen on the starting grid

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Photo by: Steve Etherington/Motorsport Images

Winner of the first position for the Sprint race Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes with Angela Cullen

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

First place winner for the Sprint race Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes with Angela Cullen, Physio

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, with Angela Cullen, Lewis Hamilton’s physiotherapist

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Photo by: Steve Etherington/Motorsport Images

Angela Cullen, physio for Lewis Hamilton and Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes

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Photo by: Zak Mauger/Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, and Angela Cullen, Lewis Hamilton Physical Therapist

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Photo by: Steve Etherington/Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, with Angela Cullen, physiotherapist

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Photo by: Steve Etherington/Motorsport Images

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, with Angela Cullen, physiotherapist

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Photo by: Steve Etherington/Motorsport Images

Angela Cullen, physiotherapist to Lewis Hamilton, congratulates Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, at Parc Ferme after taking his 100th F1 pole position

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Photo by: Steve Etherington/Motorsport Images

Angela Cullen, Lewis Hamilton’s physiotherapist, congratulates Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton at Parc Ferme after taking his 100th F1 pole position

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Photo by: Jerry Andre / Motorsport Images

Angela Cullen, Lewis Hamilton Physiotherapist and Britta Roeske, Lewis Hamilton PR Director, Mercedes

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Angela Cullen, physical trainer for Lewis Hamilton

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Photo by: Evgeniy Safronov

Max Verstappen, Red Bull Racing, Sergio Perez, Red Bull Racing, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes and Angela Cullen, Lewis Hamilton’s physiotherapist walk to the press conference

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Photo by: Mark Sutton/Motorsport Images

Hamilton explained that before working with the New Zealander, his previous collaborators did not provide him with the same satisfaction.

“When you get to Formula 1, there is a whole idea of physical trainers , but many of them, or some, are just coaches,” analyzed the Mercedes driver. “They hold the title of physical trainer, but a physical trainer is also a physical therapist.”

“For years, I always had a man as a trainer, but I noticed that I always had different problems. I had tight neck muscles, or lower back problems, or butt, whatever, and my trainer could never tell. I had to deal with it over the weekend and I thought there was no point, because I shouldn’t have to train over the weekend.”

“So I thought I had to find a fitness trainer. Angela had been doing some work at home, so I asked her if she wanted to travel with me. I didn’t know we were going to have the best partnership ever.”

“In addition to colleagues, we are close friends, so I am very lucky to have found Angela because she is a very special human being,” maintains the pilot.

“Angela is usually with me until 10 or 11 p.m. every day and from 6 or 7 every morning, so it’s a very, very important role and relationship. We love doing what we do .” And we love doing it together and I’m incredibly grateful to have her with me, because I don’t think I could do it without her.”