Nicole Scherzinger split to focus on their careers

British racing ace Lewis Hamilton has split from his pop star girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger.

The handsome couple confirmed in a statement they had ended their long-distance relationship after 20 months together.

The former F1 world champion, 25, and Pussycat Dolls frontwoman, 31, said they were focusing on their careers.


Split: Nicole Scherzinger and Lewis Hamilton have ended their 20 month romance

A statement said: 'They have decided to go their separate ways.

'They want to focus fully on their careers and will remain close friends.'

The couple first met at the MTV Europe Music Awards in November 2007, but didn't start dating until May 2008.

Scherzinger was by Lewis's side as he won a string of Grands Prix before being crowned world champion in Brazil in November 2008.

However, 2009 saw the couple spending increasing amounts of time apart due to their busy careers.

Stevenage-native Lewis is based in Switzerland, while Hawaii-born Scherzinger lives in Los Angeles.

Scherzinger spent most of last year on the Pussycat Dolls world tour, while Hamilton struggled on the Grand Prix circuit this year.

The couple were rumoured to be suffering problems last autumn, which Hamilton dismissed at the Italian Grand Prix in September, declaring: 'That is bulls***. We are still together.'

When Hamilton celebrated his 25th birthday in Switzerland last month, his girlfriend was thousands of miles away in Los Angeles working on her long-delayed solo album.

Scherzinger is preparing to finally release her album My Name Is Nicole this year.

The disc was originally set to be released in 2007, but was delayed and several songs ended up on the last Pussycat Dolls album Doll Domination.

Scherzinger is now working with Will.I.Am, A.R. Rahman and Lady GaGa on new tracks for the album.

Throughout their high-profile relationship, the couple were frequently reported to have become engaged.

Scherzinger regularly gave public declarations of her love for Hamilton, declaring he was her soulmate.

She said a year ago: 'Lewis is such a wonderful guy. I definitely think he could be The One.

'We might be moving in together soon, he is so kind and generous, we just get on so well.'

In an interview with the Mail's You magazine last July, Scherzinger admitted it was challenging to balance their busy careers with romance.

She said: 'We are both driven people who are serious about our work, so we are very supportive of the time we do have together.

'Finding time for each other can get complicated, but we find a way to work it out.'

She also played down rumours of an engagement, insisting her career was her number one priority.

She explained: ' In ten years’ time I would like to have accomplished a lot in my career - that is the most important thing to me.

'My dream is to do my own music one day, to have an unbelievable tour, to have done some musical theatre and some film and maybe to have opened up a performing arts school for special needs kids. That is my ultimate dream, not marriage.'

Last May, they did managed to find time to holiday together on a cruise in the Mediterranean.

Although she missed a lot of his races last year due to her tour, she proved to be something of a good luck charm when she attended the Hungarian Grand Prix last July - which he won.

She also joined Hamilton at the Singapore Grand Prix in September - the second of two races he won last season.