Lewis Hamilton splits with Pussycat Doll Scherzinger

Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton has split from his popstar girlfriend of two years Nicole Scherzinger, the lead singer with pop band the Pussycat Dolls.

The pair announced the break-up in a joint statement that said they had decided to "fully focus on their careers" but would "remain close friends".

Hamilton and Scherzinger (above left) first met at the MTV Europe Awards in Munich in November 2007 and began dating soon afterwards. She was on hand to see Hamilton crowned world champion at the Brazilian Grand Prix in November 2008.

Scherzinger became a regular on the F1 circuit but there were rumours that the pair were close to splitting last season. The pair live on different sides of the world - Hamilton in Switzerland and Scherzinger in Los Angeles - and it was claimed that 25-year-old Hamilton, who is six years younger than Scherzinger, was reluctant to settle down. 

The break-up could have repercussions for the forthcoming Formula 1 season and will disappoint those who were looking forward to seeing how Scherzinger dealt with the presence of a glamorous new rival - Jenson Button's model girlfriend Jessica Michibata - in the McLaren garage in 2010.

Button, the current world champion, is Hamilton's new team mate at McLaren and the rivalry between the pair is already the talk of F1. But now Hamilton is single again, Button - and Michibata (above right) - will face the added pressure of becoming the sport's glamour couple, and the attendant media coverage.

Provided newly single Hamilton can keep his private life private he will be able to focus on winning back the drivers' crown without off-track distractions. ·