Lewis Hamilton and Nicole Scherzinger split after four-year relationship

By Ben Todd

Last updated at 10:55 AM on 21st October 2011

Lewis Hamilton and Nicole Scherzinger have split up.

The 26-year-old F1 racing driver - who is seven years younger than his girlfriend - decided to call time on their relationship because their conflicting work schedules meant they were seeing less and less of each other.

The sportsman and Miss Scherzinger - who rose to fame as part of The Pussycat Dolls pop group - had been dating for four years.

'Amicable': Lewis Hamilton and Nicole Scherzinger have ended their relationship after four years together

A friend said: 'Yes, they've split. It's a real shame because Nicole really tried to make it work.

'They are still very good friends and it was an amicable split, but they just decided it was impossible to keep the relationship going with such conflicting work schedules.'

The Hawaiian-born singer is part of the judging panel on X Factor USA, alongside Simon Cowell.

As a result, she is based in Los Angeles, California.

Hamilton, meanwhile, travels all over the world as one of the leading drivers in F1 and has a home in Switzerland.

Conflicting schedules: While Nicole is a judge on X Factor USA, driver Lewis races for McLaren

Happier times: The pair were said to have got engaged earlier this year

Yesterday, he was at an event for his driving team McLaren.

A source told how he was in 'good spirits' at the event.

The couple met at the European Music Awards in Munich in November 2007, before going public at the Monaco Grand Prix six months later.

Miss Scherzinger, 33, was by his side as he was crowned world champion in Brazil in November 2008.

But they spent increasing amounts of time apart due to their busy careers.

In July there was unconfirmed speculation the couple had become engaged.

The couple split in January 2010 when they had been together for 20 months.

Following the break up, Hamilton told the Daily Mail: '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.

'It never was a distraction but I am not going to take my mind off what I’ve got to do by thinking about it.'

Speaking of their relationship recently, Hamilton said: 'We go to the gym together quite often and she goes running with me. She does her own programme and I do mine and it’s pretty cool.'

A spokesman for Hamilton declined to comment.

A spokesman for Miss Scherzinger was unavailable for comment.