Lewis Hamilton burst onto the Formula 1 scene in 2007 and quickly became an icon both on and off the track.
Pairing up with defending two-time champion Fernando Alonso at McLaren, Hamilton quickly established himself as a real talent. Winning four races and grabbing 12 podiums, he had what is widely regarded as the greatest rookie season of all time.
However, he did not win the title, as Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen beat Hamilton and Alonso by one point to the crown. But the Brit would claim his maiden F1 title the following year in 2008, beating Felipe Massa in dramatic fashion.
After a tense battle throughout the season, Hamilton won the title over Massa by one point after a last-gasp overtake on Timo Glock on the final lap. It sparked incredible celebration inside the McLaren garage, and famously, from Nicole Scherzinger.
The Pussycat Dolls singer was in a relationship with Hamilton from 2007 to 2015 after meeting at the MTV VMAs. Scherzinger soon became a regular in the F1 paddock, cheering on the McLaren star at several races.
How Nicole Scherzinger congratulated Lewis Hamilton after winning the 2008 F1 title
Famous videos show Scherzinger jumping for joy with the McLaren mechanics after Hamilton passed Glock for the 2008 title in Brazil. It would mark his first of seven world championships.
In a video on her official YouTube channel, Scherzinger extended her congratulations to her boyfriend after watching him clinch the title over Massa in Sao Paulo.
She said: “I am so excited. I feel like I’m on top of the world right now. Why? Because I want to congratulate my boyfriend Lewis Hamilton for being the official Formula 1 World Champion!
“Congratulations baby! I love you, I love you, I love you, and just anybody who’s not a Formula 1 fan out there, go be a Formula 1 fan and all you Formula 1 fans out there be a PCD fan.
“Anyways it’s all about the love and it’s just good times and good times call for thanks and gratitude and celebration, so we’re so thankful and love you. Congratulations babe.”
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Lewis Hamilton split with Nicole Scherzinger in 2015
After leaving McLaren, Scherzinger was seen in the paddock during Hamilton’s days at Mercedes. She was pictured laughing in the garage in 2013 – Hamilton’s first year with the Silver Arrows – when he mistakenly drove into the McLaren pit box in China.
The pair had several break-ups during their relationship and subsequently reconciled. They cut ties for good in 2015, citing conflicting schedules and career paths as the reason for their separation.
Hamilton has since been rumoured to have had numerous high-profile relationships, including with Rita Ora, Rihanna and Gigi Hadid.
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