In the cutthroat world of Formula 1, where the blazing spotlight reveals both triumphs and weaknesses, seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton faces not only competition on the track but also a toxic wave of hatred online and offline. It was in this tense context, on the eve of his new adventure with Ferrari in 2025, that Angela Cullen, his loyal physiotherapist and confidante, broke down during an impromptu press conference in Maranello. Her eyes reddened with tears, the 45-year-old New Zealander, who returned to Hamilton’s side after a painful separation in 2023, made a heartbreaking plea: “Please stop, I beg you!” The words, spoken in a broken voice, resonated like a cry from the heart, exposing the dark underbelly of a celebrity under pressure.
Angela Cullen is no anonymous figure in Hamilton’s entourage. Since 2016, she has been much more than a simple physiotherapist: driver, mental coach, sister-in-arms. Together, they have won four world titles with Mercedes, sharing moments of unbridled joy on the podium and sleepless nights after defeats. Their complicity, often mocked as a fictional romance by the tabloids, is in reality a bond forged in adversity. After his abrupt departure in March 2023—officially to “pursue other passions”—Cullen had tried to move away from motorsport, flirting with IndyCar with driver Marcus Armstrong. But the “racing bug,” as Hamilton calls it, caught up with her. In January 2025, photos showing her in Maranello, wearing a red Ferrari jacket, confirmed her return. “She belongs to the sport,” Hamilton said emotionally at the Miami Grand Prix, noting how Cullen radiates “love and positivity” wherever she goes.
Yet this idyllic return is overshadowed by a growing shadow: harassment. Angela has lifted the lid on the torment endured by Lewis, a man accustomed to sporting criticism but not to this personal violence. “He receives calls at 3 a.m., anonymous voices screaming: ‘Loser, old man, stop racing!’ Or worse: ‘Go home, we don’t need you anymore!’” she confided, her voice trembling. These insults, often tinged with racism and ageism – Hamilton turns 41 in January 2026 – come from an extremist fringe of fans disappointed by his recent performances at Mercedes (second in 2024, but without a win since 2021). On social media, hashtags like #LewisOut abound, amplified by anonymous accounts and even, sometimes, by malicious rumors within the paddock. Hamilton himself spoke of these “incessant attacks” in an interview with Sky Sports in February 2025, admitting that “it takes its toll on the mind, even for a champion.”
Angela’s tears weren’t just a plea for mercy; they were a testament to cumulative suffering. She described nights when Lewis, unable to sleep, relived those poisonous messages, doubting his worth beyond the trophies. “He gave everything to this sport: his records, his diversity activism through Mission 44, his historic victories. And in return? Pointless hatred.” Cullen, a mother of two and former adventurer (she cycled from Tierra del Fuego to Colombia in 2006), knows the meaning of resilience. But seeing her protégé, whom she affectionately calls “my GOAT” (Greatest Of All Time), broken like this overwhelmed her. In a gesture of suppressed rage, she then unleashed these eight scathing words that went viral online: “Leave him alone, or face the fact that you’re a coward!” » A lapidary, direct sentence, which garnered thousands of likes from loyal fans, but also virulent counter-attacks.
This plea comes at a pivotal moment for Hamilton. At Ferrari, alongside Charles Leclerc, he’s aiming for an eighth title, an absolute record. But the pressure is mounting: the passionate but merciless tifosi are scrutinizing every lap. Already, during the Bahrain winter tests in February 2025, hostile banners appeared in the stands. The FIA, alerted by complaints from TeamLH (the nickname for Hamilton’s supporters), has promised measures against cyberbullying, but Angela’s words are a reminder that laws are struggling to keep up with the speed of digital insults.
The F1 community is divided. On one side, voices like former Mercedes boss Toto Wolff praise Cullen’s courage: “Angela is a force of nature; her return strengthens Lewis mentally.” On the other, detractors accuse him of “victimizing” a multimillionaire driver. Yet studies like the UN’s 2024 study on racism in sport confirm that non-white drivers, like Hamilton, experience 40% more online abuse. His anti-racism commitment, since taking a knee in 2020, has made him a prime target.
Angela Cullen concluded her speech with a message of hope: “Lewis is unbreakable. He races to inspire, not to please.” As the 2025 season opens with the Australian Grand Prix in late March, her plea resonates as a reminder: speed isn’t just on the asphalt; it’s also in the hearts of men. Hamilton, impassive in public, simply tweeted: “Gratitude for love. Hate doesn’t hold back a champion.” With Cullen by his side, he rides into the unknown, but no longer alone. And if those tears were ever shed, they may well water the laurels of a red renaissance.
