Lewis Hamilton and Angela Cullen Part Ways Early due to...read more

Lewis Hamilton and Angela Cullen Part Ways Again on Good Terms Amid Ferrari Surge

Lewis Hamilton’s first home race as a Ferrari driver at Imola was filled with high-stakes drama both on and off the track. While the seven-time world champion delivered an inspired fourth-place finish—matching Ferrari’s top result of the 2025 season—another story quietly unfolded behind the scenes: Hamilton and long-time performance coach Angela Cullen have once again parted ways.

Saturday saw Hamilton frustrated with Ferrari’s ongoing tyre warm-up struggles, calling the issue “a rude awakening” after both drivers failed to make it out of Q2. But on race day, a clever early pit stop under the Safety Car and a series of rapid laps helped Hamilton surge through the field, thrilling the tifosi lining the Imola circuit.

In the midst of the post-race celebrations, Cullen was spotted leaving the paddock with her luggage. Soon after, Sky Sport F1 and La Gazzetta dello Sport confirmed that Cullen will step back from traveling to every Grand Prix. The decision, described as mutual, comes as she shifts focus to launching a human performance consultancy in New Zealand. Though she’s stepping away from full-time duties, Cullen is expected to attend selected races throughout the season.

Sources within Ferrari say Hamilton fully supported the change, feeling increasingly comfortable with the team’s in-house performance staff. Team Principal Frédéric Vasseur highlighted the flexibility of the arrangement: “There’s always the option for Angela to return for key races like Monaco or Monza if Lewis wants her there,” he said, referencing a clause in Hamilton’s contract allowing for occasional external support.

Cullen, a constant presence during Hamilton’s dominant Mercedes years, marked the transition with a reflective Instagram post featuring her scooter beside a Ferrari crate, captioned: “Chapter closed, but the story never ends.”

What impact her reduced role might have remains to be seen. Hamilton’s strong Imola performance suggests growing confidence in Ferrari’s support system, but questions remain over his qualifying form—especially with Monaco, a circuit demanding pinpoint preparation, just around the corner. Observers still recall a slight dip in Hamilton’s Saturday performances when Cullen first took a break in 2023.

With a demanding triple-header ahead—Monaco, Barcelona, and Montréal—the spotlight will be on whether Ferrari’s internal setup can match the tailored support Cullen once provided. For now, Hamilton and Cullen insist the change is simply the next step in a long-standing partnership.

“We’re like family—just taking different flights,” Hamilton said after the race, signaling an evolution rather than an end to their unique and successful collaboration.