LEWIS HAMILTON turned his physio into the Big Dipper as he celebrated an upturn in his rollercoaster year.
The Mercedes driver pushed Angela Cullen into a river – after she promised to take the plunge if he landed a podium spot at the Canadian GP.
Cullen helped Britain's seven-time world champ defy back problems that left him doubtful to even start Sunday's race, let alone deliver a season's best third place.
Now 'ecstatic' Hamilton hopes the tide has turned for his fitness AND form.
However, Mercedes performance coach Cullen was left as drenched as the Montreal track had been during Max Verstappen's weekend victory as Hamilton gave her a soaking sign-off.
He remained Canada Dry while he turned the New Zealander into a Merc-maid by gleefully dispatching her into the water with a two-handed shove.
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Mercedes posted a clip on social media of her soggy fate with the words:"Get in there, Ang!
"Angela said if Lewis Hamilton finished on the podium she’d jump into the river. She just needed a push."
The 47-year-old, who has been working with Hamilton since 2016, managed a wide-eyed smile throughout – much like the team's reaction to his performance on Sunday.
Championship leader and title-holder Verstappen held off Ferrari's Carlos Sainz's late challenge to triumph – but Hamilton beat team-mate George Russell to third spot.
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Re-energised Hamilton, 37, whose bouncing Mercedes had given him a bad back in Baku, said: "I'm ecstatic. I didn't expect this.
"It feels really special, especially as it was where I got my first Grand Prix win.
"It has given me and the team a lot of hope. There's more to come from this car. The potential is truly there if we can get the setup right."
"That's been the most difficult thing this year – really trying to optimise the set up.
Of his back issues, he claimed: "It is feeling good. I am back to feeling young again!"
Cullen used acupuncture as well as physiotherapy to get Hamilton fighting fit over the past week.
So a shower of praise might have been a fairer reward than a slam dunking!
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