Former Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton has split up with Nicole Scherzinger of US girl band Pussycat Dolls after two years together, the couple announced Monday.
The 25-year-old Briton and Scherzinger, 31, said they want to concentrate on their careers.
“Nicole Scherzinger and Lewis Hamilton can confirm that they have decided to go their separate ways. The two of them have decided to focus fully on their careers and will remain close friends,” they said in a joint statement. AFP
Scherzinger, who, at 30, is seven years Hamilton’s senior, had become a high-profile fixture at his side since the pair first met at the MTV Europe Awards in Munich in November 2007.
Hamilton remains committed to the new season with McLaren and the Englishman has already stoked the fires ahead of the renewal of his highly-anticipated rivalry with Fernando Alonso, now installed as a Ferrari driver at Maranello.
The 2008 world champion has taken a dig at his former team-mate, claiming that he thrashed the Spaniard during their bitter battle at McLaren in 2007, something that Alonso, who finished third to Hamilton’s second only on countback, would certainly dispute. Times Online
Former world Formula One champion Lewis, 25, said he was like a “besotted schoolboy”, while 31-year-old Nicole, who accompanied Lewis to Grand Prix around the globe, called him her “soulmate”.
Reports last month said the high-profile pair were close to separating because of the racing driver’s reluctance to settle down.
Lewis, who previously dated beauty queen Vivian Burkhardt, is hoping to win back his F1 title this year but faces competition from current world champion Jenson Button as his McLaren teammate and Michael Schumacher, who is out of retirement. The Press Association
However, Hamilton is refusing to be too heartbroken over the break-up, insisting his main focus is sport.
“I just want to move forward in a positive manner. The focus is on this season and doing the best I possibly can and getting the results on the track. I’m just keeping my mind on that,” he said.
“It (the relationship) never was a distraction but I am not going to take my mind off what I’ve got to do by thinking about it,” he added. Times of India
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