Lewis Hamilton reuniting with former trainer Angela Cullen could provide the seven-time Formula 1 champion a positive “reset” at Ferrari, according to an expert in sports psychology.
Cullen first worked with Hamilton in 2016 during his record-setting tenure with Mercedes with the successful duo parting ways ahead of the 2023 campaign.
The New Zealander has now returned to the Hamilton fold as team physio of the Briton’s Project 44 company, which he has set up to help manage his new journey with Ferrari and other business interests.
Cullen will team up with Marc Hynes, who has also returned to working with Hamilton to oversee his performance team, having previously worked with the ex-Mercedes man between 2016 and 2021.
Moreover, Cullen was spotted in Fiorano as Hamilton conducted his first laps in a Ferrari F1 car, marking the biggest change in his career.
After 12 years in the familiar surroundings of Mercedes, Hamilton’s F1 world is completely new, with a new team, country of residence, language and culture to get accustomed to.
Speaking on behalf of AskGamblers, Dr Martin Turner, a sports psychologist at Manchester Metropolitan University, has discussed how Cullen’s return could help ease Hamilton’s transition to Ferrari.
“This could be a nice reset for him, going back to familiar territory with someone who understands him, his goals, and his needs,” explained Turner.
“Hamilton will no doubt be able to be quite open with Cullen, which can lead to better work between them, and better outcomes for Hamilton.
“Because you know the athlete well, you can have briefer and more impactful conversations.
“Because you have tons of previous experience with them, you know what to say and how to say things most effectively, because you already have an understanding of what works and what does not.
“Also, because you have a connection, you understand the athlete’s no-verbal cues better, which aids communication.”
Cullen’s impact on Hamilton
Data shows that Hamilton has performed better on average with Cullen at his side than not, scoring 17.8 points per race with the New Zealander and 10.2 points per race since the start of 2023 without.
Of course, a key driver in that statistic is car performance, which was far greater at Mercedes for the majority of Cullen’s time in Hamilton’s camp.
Still, with Hamilton admittedly below par in 2024, especially in qualifying, bringing Cullen back into the fold will do more good than harm.
Hamilton has often been glowing in praise of Cullen’s work and in 2020 said: “People for sure won’t understand it, naturally, because they see it from a distance, but she has been one of the greatest things that’s happened to me in my life.
“I’ve been fortunate to work with a lot of people… and she’s the single hardest-working woman that I get to be around,” he added.
Turner also explains how Cullen and Hamilton’s relationship can work for the good of the athlete.
“The athlete gets used to what you can and cannot offer, and what you cannot offer, so they can actually use the relationship better for their needs,” he said.
“Also, having a perception of high social support, which is what we offer in part, can help them manage stress better.
“Knowing you have someone who you can go to when things get tough can be a great pressure release valve.
“Friends are friends. Coaches are coaches. They are not the same.
“Blurring of these lines does not allow the coach to operate properly.
“You do not talk to your friends in the same way you talk to a client.
“Athletes should be clear about ‘this is why I want you in my team, and this is your job’ and coaches should be clear about ‘this is my job, and these are my boundaries.’”
READ MORE – Lewis Hamilton to reunite with ex-trainer Angela Cullen for Ferrari venture
