Cullen and Hamilton re-join forces.

[Yazoo]

On Wed, 22 Jan 2025 13:34:52 +1300, ~misfit~

Good to see. I mentioned a few times that I thought their split in 2023 was a big part of
Hamilton's subsequent down-turn in form. Nobody else seems to ever mention this but now them
teaming up again is all over F1 media.
Off the top of my head I seem to remember Cullen saying she needed a break from touring the world
every week (she has two kids after all). She spent a year with fellow Kiwi Marcus Armstrong in the
Indycars but Marcus is no Hamilton.
With these two coming together again and Lawson at RBR I'm quite looking forward to the 2025
season. It should be more interesting than 2024 was (for me at least) hopefully.
Belated Happy New Year to the good folks here at rasf1.

Is this officially confirmed?

[~misfit~]

Post by Yazoo
On Wed, 22 Jan 2025 13:34:52 +1300, ~misfit~

Good to see. I mentioned a few times that I thought their split in 2023 was a big part of
Hamilton's subsequent down-turn in form. Nobody else seems to ever mention this but now them
teaming up again is all over F1 media.
Off the top of my head I seem to remember Cullen saying she needed a break from touring the world
every week (she has two kids after all). She spent a year with fellow Kiwi Marcus Armstrong in the
Indycars but Marcus is no Hamilton.
With these two coming together again and Lawson at RBR I'm quite looking forward to the 2025
season. It should be more interesting than 2024 was (for me at least) hopefully.
Belated Happy New Year to the good folks here at rasf1.

Is this officially confirmed?

Yes.
<https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/lewis-hamilton-to-reunite-with-former-trainer-angela-cullen-as-his-ferrari-journey.3mgMZiyn4jvlnK3ijzJ5Ky>

[Yazoo]

On Wed, 22 Jan 2025 23:12:56 +1300, ~misfit~

Post by ~misfit~

Post by Yazoo
Is this officially confirmed?

Yes.
<https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article/lewis-hamilton-to-reunite-with-former-trainer-angela-cullen-as-his-ferrari-journey.3mgMZiyn4jvlnK3ijzJ5Ky>

Great! She had a big impact on his peace and performance.
I hope her return will help him again!

[Eric]

Good to see. I mentioned a few times that I thought their split in 2023
was a big part of Hamilton's subsequent down-turn in form. Nobody else
seems to ever mention this but now them teaming up again is all over F1
media.
Off the top of my head I seem to remember Cullen saying she needed a
break from touring the world every week (she has two kids after all).
She spent a year with fellow Kiwi Marcus Armstrong in the Indycars but
Marcus is no Hamilton.
With these two coming together again and Lawson at RBR I'm quite looking
forward to the 2025 season. It should be more interesting than 2024 was
(for me at least) hopefully.
Belated Happy New Year to the good folks here at rasf1.

I agree - I hope this and the fresh start at Ferrari will help Hamilton
get to #8.

Seeing the photos of Lewis in red and driving the '23 car made me
realize just how much I'm itching for testing to start. I'm sure hoping
that my Williams can pull something out of the hat for this year.

[Bob Latham]

Post by Eric
I agree - I hope this and the fresh start at Ferrari will help
Hamilton get to #8.

Yes indeed. I have been a lewis fan since he started in F1 simply
because he's a Brit and one of the very best of all time. However,
I've also had a long term dislike of Ferrari, it was top of my
dislike list for years but Red Bull now easily take that prize. I had
decided to stay a Merc fan but I admit I'm torn because I do think
Lewis is owed one for the 2021 cheating so I do hope it comes
together for him.

Post by Eric
Seeing the photos of Lewis in red and driving the '23 car made me
realize just how much I'm itching for testing to start.

Oh yes.

Post by Eric
I'm sure hoping that my Williams can pull something out of the hat
for this year.

That would be nice to see and for me I do like Toto so hope Merc cam
solve their issues.

Bob.

[Mark]

Post by Bob Latham

Post by Eric
I agree - I hope this and the fresh start at Ferrari will help
Hamilton get to #8.

Yes indeed. I have been a lewis fan since he started in F1 simply
because he's a Brit and one of the very best of all time. However,
I've also had a long term dislike of Ferrari, it was top of my
dislike list for years but Red Bull now easily take that prize. I had
decided to stay a Merc fan but I admit I'm torn because I do think
Lewis is owed one for the 2021 cheating so I do hope it comes
together for him.

Post by Eric
Seeing the photos of Lewis in red and driving the '23 car made me
realize just how much I'm itching for testing to start.

Oh yes.

Post by Eric
I'm sure hoping that my Williams can pull something out of the hat
for this year.

That would be nice to see and for me I do like Toto so hope Merc cam
solve their issues.

I think Hamilton deserved 2021. There are plenty of individual issues
throughout the season that both sides will argue about, but it was very
well fought. The final race, though, was shockingly handled and there is
no question to any fair-minded person that the decision to deviate from
normal rules (in at least one case) and precedent (in at least one
other) combined to make Hamilton's win impossible. That's not fair.

BUT...time gives no favours out. Hamilton - like any human - is subject
to the waning of fitness, reaction-time and so on. He has the benefit of
some fantastic experience which can tip the scales back the other way,
but you need to both be at the top end of the driver-skill equation
_and_ have a car that's the best or very close to the best in the field.

He can hope he's given a car that's there or thereabouts. I think he can
put in a top-rate performance but I doubt that he's physically able to
deliver even on where he was in 2021 (let alone earlier). So, if he gets
the best car and/or the cream of the other drivers have inferior cars,
he has a chance.

But it's chance. Luck plays a part. Weather, other drivers driving into
him (or others), strange on-track incidents of other kinds all play a
part. That might benefit him or it might disadvantage him.

It should be an interesting season but, if I had to lay real money down,
I wouldn't risk it on Hamilton. Which is not to say he won't *get* title
#8, but the past few years where the RB car dominated made that much
harder.

We're talking about an eighth title, but the history is littered with
drivers who lost out on even a single title because they were unlucky or
shared the racetrace with a great and, under other circumstances, they
would have been champions.

And that's motor-racing.

[~misfit~]

Post by Mark

Post by Bob Latham

Post by Eric
I agree - I hope this and the fresh start at Ferrari will help
Hamilton get to #8.

Yes indeed. I have been a lewis fan since he started in F1 simply
because he's a Brit and one of the very best of all time. However,
I've also had a long term dislike of Ferrari, it was top of my
dislike list for years but Red Bull now easily take that prize. I had
decided to stay a Merc fan but I admit I'm torn because I do think
Lewis is owed one for the 2021 cheating so I do hope it comes
together for him.

I agree with this. Part of the reason that Ferrari have become less dis-likeable for me has been
Fred. Not only the man himself but the changes he's bought. The team is more relatable now (and
less implacable - which was a reasonable trait for a winning team but more of am impediment to an
also-ran).

Post by Mark

Post by Bob Latham

Post by Eric
Seeing the photos of Lewis in red and driving the '23 car made me
realize just how much I'm itching for testing to start.

Oh yes.

Post by Eric
I'm sure hoping that my Williams can pull something out of the hat
for this year.

That would be nice to see and for me I do like Toto so hope Merc cam
solve their issues.

I think Hamilton deserved 2021. There are plenty of individual issues
throughout the season that both sides will argue about, but it was very
well fought. The final race, though, was shockingly handled and there is
no question to any fair-minded person that the decision to deviate from
normal rules (in at least one case) and precedent (in at least one
other) combined to make Hamilton's win impossible. That's not fair.
BUT...time gives no favours out. Hamilton - like any human - is subject
to the waning of fitness, reaction-time and so on. He has the benefit of
some fantastic experience which can tip the scales back the other way,
but you need to both be at the top end of the driver-skill equation
_and_ have a car that's the best or very close to the best in the field.

I will add a third variable that IMO is just as important as the other two; Head-space. A driver
needs to feel confident and have a nurturing and positive 'crew'. That's why I think the return of
Angela Cullen might make a significant difference.

Post by Mark
He can hope he's given a car that's there or thereabouts. I think he can
put in a top-rate performance but I doubt that he's physically able to
deliver even on where he was in 2021 (let alone earlier). So, if he gets
the best car and/or the cream of the other drivers have inferior cars,
he has a chance.
But it's chance. Luck plays a part. Weather, other drivers driving into
him (or others), strange on-track incidents of other kinds all play a
part. That might benefit him or it might disadvantage him.
It should be an interesting season but, if I had to lay real money down,
I wouldn't risk it on Hamilton. Which is not to say he won't *get* title
#8, but the past few years where the RB car dominated made that much
harder.

I'd put money on Lawson being in the top 5 in the DWC - maybe even in the top 3 (depending on the
odds).

Post by Mark
We're talking about an eighth title, but the history is littered with
drivers who lost out on even a single title because they were unlucky or
shared the racetrace with a great and, under other circumstances, they
would have been champions.
And that's motor-racing.

Indeed.

[Sir Tim]

Post by ~misfit~
I'd put money on Lawson being in the top 5 in the DWC - maybe even in the
top 3 (depending on the
odds).

Can’t see it myself. I think you are letting your patriotism (or is it
nationalism?) affect your judgement, Shaun.
We shall see ;-)

[~misfit~]

Post by Sir Tim

Post by ~misfit~
I'd put money on Lawson being in the top 5 in the DWC - maybe even in the
top 3 (depending on the
odds).

Can’t see it myself. I think you are letting your patriotism (or is it
nationalism?) affect your judgement, Shaun.
We shall see ;-)

Maybe, maybe. However Lawson's strength has always been to jump into a new car and learn to drive
it very well quickly - he's very adaptable. His record for maiden wins is quite remarkable. That's
why I wishfully said almost a year ago that I hope he gets Checo's seat soon - before he stagnates
somewhere else.

To me the fact that Lawson didn't trounce Tsunoda speaks volumes about how good a grip Yuki has on
that Racing Bulls car - and that the car likely isn't capable of much more than Yuki's been getting
out of it. I feel sorry for Yuki, for Liam to have leap-frogged him, as I think he's a capable
little driver.

I just hope that for Liam's sake the RBR car is as competitive this year, what with Adrian having
left. I've got a feeling that it won't be as relatively good as it was in 2024 (and I don't think
Max is much longer for the team either...).

[scole]

Good to see. I mentioned a few times that I thought their split in 2023

was a big part of

Hamilton's subsequent down-turn in form. Nobody else seems to ever

mention this but now them

teaming up again is all over F1 media.
Off the top of my head I seem to remember Cullen saying she needed a

break from touring the world

every week (she has two kids after all). She spent a year with fellow

Kiwi Marcus Armstrong in the

Indycars but Marcus is no Hamilton.
With these two coming together again and Lawson at RBR I'm quite looking

forward to the 2025

season. It should be more interesting than 2024 was (for me at least)

hopefully.
This is encouraging, he seemed all at sea sometimes without her.