Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton recently announced his decision to end a seven-year association with personal coach Angela Cullen.
The duo shared a great bond, which was expressed by them as they reflected on a fruitful partnership and close friendship.
Naturally, journalists were keen to understand how Hamilton is feeling now that Cullen is not around him at the paddock on race weekends.
The seven-time world champion was questioned by Sky Sports ahead of the Australian Grand Prix regarding his state of mind.
“Angela is living her life right now,” he said.
“She’s got so many ideas of things she wants to do. We message pretty much every day. We are still going to skydive together. We are always going to be in each other’s lives.
“We’re stuck with each other, unfortunately, or fortunately! We’ve been through thick and thin. I am grateful our relationship is as good as it is. We’ve probably had one of the longest relationships I would say in the sport.
“I am incredibly grateful for her, I love her dearly. I think now I have got one of the guys, Stevo, who has been with me since my first race with McLaren, is helping me out as well.”
Hamilton discussed how important his support staff is to him and how they have benefited him at key moments in his career.
“Well when I started in F1, my dear friend Aki [Hintsa], passed away from cancer, had a huge influence on me, getting into a team and started up this company that was servicing athletes – pretty much all the drivers use Hintsa,” he added.
“For medical, trainer applications, physios, stuff like that. It’s an incredibly challenging role for anyone in those positions. It’s a lot of travelling, a lot of time away from family.
“You grow incredibly close together – during your weekends or where you’re travelling, it’s usually you or your trainer or physio.
“It’s incredibly intimate in that sense – you become great friends.”