Lewis Hamilton and Pussycat Doll split

Formula One star Lewis Hamilton and Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger have split after two years, it was announced today.

Lewis Hamilton takes pole position

• Jenson Buttion will start in fifth position• Hamilton finished 0.7 seconds ahead of Sebastian VettelMcLaren's Lewis Hamilton will start on pole position for tomorrow's inaugural Abu Dhabi grand prix at after topping qualifying ahead of Red Bull team-mates Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.Against the stunning backdrop of the Middle East's new £800m motor sport playground, last year's world champion was quickest at the end of every period.Hamilton ultimately grabbed the 17th pole of his career in dominant fashion, finishing almost 0.7 seconds ahead of Vettel as the Red Bull driver aims to secure second place in the drivers' standings.Hopes of an all-British front row for the first time since the 1995 Australian grand prix came to nothing as new world champion Jenson Button will start fifth in his Brawn GP.Formula OneLewis HamiltonJenson ButtonMcLarenSebastian VettelMotor sportguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Hamilton says he won't go off track

• Former world champion without two mentors this season• 'I race for the same team and I've still the same determination'Lewis Hamilton has no intention of going off the rails now he no longer has by his side two dominant characters who have ruled his life.Less than a year ago Hamilton lost his mentor Ron Dennis who stepped down as McLaren's team principal, many believe to ensure his team avoided severe punishment over the 'lie-gate' scandal. Dennis had been an instrumental figure in Hamilton's career since the age of 13 when he was taken on by McLaren and Mercedes as part of their driver development programme.Then just last week, the 25-year-old announced a parting of the ways from his father Anthony as his manager, insisting he wanted to build a more normal father-son relationship away from Formula One.Ahead of the season-opening grand prix in Bahrain this weekend, it leaves Hamilton without a guiding figure at a race for the first time in his life, a situation he is convinced he can handle."When Ron stepped back, nothing really changed. We've still a good relationship, and if anything it has actually grown," said Hamilton. "Rather than a stressed, thoughtful boss thinking about the job and always giving you advice, now he just gives an opinion. He is so relaxed now, and I think it will probably be the same with my dad."Inevitably, with my dad taking a step back, I will have to make some more decisions for myself. But then I've always been able to do that anyway. For example, I chose where I wanted to live, although I still hope to be guided in the same way."Hamilton maintains there is no wild side about to emerge. "I am who I am," he said. "I don't think anybody has stopped me from being who I wanted to be. When I arrived in the sport, I didn't go out and buy a million different cars, I took my time."Maybe I might buy one car this year, and I might go to one more Amber Lounge [post-race] party this year than I did last year. Who knows? But that's not being wild."I've still the same girl, I race for the same team and I've still the same dedication and determination. I don't think you should try and change something that works. My style, my approach, has always worked for me, and I tend to keep it that way."For now, until Hamilton acquires a new manager, the team principal Martin Whitmarsh will have to take up the mantle of guiding light.Although Hamilton and team-mate Jenson Button are all smiles at the moment as they attempt to build their friendship, Whitmarsh has recognised inevitable issues may arise.As Whitmarsh recently said: "At some point, one of them is going to feel uncomfortable because he is getting beaten by the other."That could lead to friction and be a time when Hamilton will need to turn to someone for advice, although he feels it will not come to that."Formula One is the pinnacle of the sport, it's so intense, so much is going on, so you can't guess whether we will have a tough time at some stage, or something like that," said Hamilton. "But we're professionals, and we have a mutual respect for one another that we will deal with it professionally. That's my feeling."Lewis HamiltonFormula OneMotor sportguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Vettel outshines the rest in Melbourne

• Hamilton 11th on grid, Jenson Button fourth• Vettel alongside Mark Webber on front rowThe trials of Friday night, when he was apprehended by local police for "over-exuberant driving" on his way out of the Albert Park circuit, continued for Lewis Hamilton today when he failed to make it into the final qualifying session for tomorrow's Australian Grand Prix."Where do I need to find time?" Hamilton asked his engineers over the radio as he prepared for a last desperate effort, but at the end of the Q2 session a margin of 0.062sec separated his McLaren-Mercedes from the car with the 10th fastest lap time, Robert Kubica's Renault."I struggled to get time in the last sector," he said afterwards, "and when I put new tyres on I couldn't get more out of them."Occupying pole position in today's race will be Sebastian Vettel, whose Red Bull-Renault was fastest in all three sessions and whose final lap, on a bumpy and slippery track, provided a demonstration of the 22-year-old's virtuosity and natural aggression. Next to him on the grid will be his team-mate Mark Webber, the local hero, with the Ferrari of Fernando Alonso, the winner in Bahrain two weeks ago, and the McLaren of Jenson Button on the second row, ahead of the second Ferrari of Felipe Massa. Once again Nico Rosberg's Mercedes was faster than the similar car of Michael Schumacher, the two German cars starting in sixth and seventh places.Vettel started from pole in Bahrain and led the race with apparent ease until a spark-plug failure reduced his engine power and dropped him to an eventual fourth place. As Hamilton licked his wounds he could at least point to the accuracy of his suggestion earlier in the week that the Red Bulls are "insanely quick".The sessions were all held in dry conditions but rain is forecast for tomorrow and Vettel and Alonso both predicted a race in which accidents and the appearance the safety car will make life complicated for the drivers. As in Bahrain, the three new Cosworth-engined teams - Lotus, Virgin and Hispania - were eliminated in the first part of qualifying, along with the Renault of the Russian driver Vitaly Petrov. As well as Hamilton, Q2 saw the elimination of the Williams of Nico Hulkenberg, the Toro Rossos of Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastien Buemi, the Saubers of Pedro de la Rosa and Kamui Kobayashi and the Force India of Tonio Liuzzi. Joining seven cars from the current big four teams in the final shoot-out were the Williams of Rubens Barrichello, Kubica's Renault and the Force India of Adrian Sutil.Leading positions after qualifying:1. Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Red Bull 1min 23.919secs2. Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull 1:24.0353. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Ferrari 1:24.1114. Jenson Button (Gbr) McLaren 1:24.6755. Felipe Massa (Bra) Ferrari 1:24.8376. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Mercedes GP 1:24.8847. Michael Schumacher (Ger) Mercedes GP 1:24.9278. Rubens Barrichello (Bra) Williams 1:25.2179. Robert Kubica (Pol) Renault 1:25.37210. Adrian Sutil (Ger) Force India 1:26.03611. Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) McLaren 1:25.18412. Sebastien Buemi (Swi) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:25.63813. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Force India 1:25.74314. Pedro de la Rosa (Spa) BMW Sauber 1:25.74715. Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Williams 1:25.74816. Kamui Kobayashi (Jpn) BMW Sauber 1:25.77717. Jaime Alguersuari (Spa) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:26.08918. Vitaly Petrov (Rus) Renault 1:26.47119. Heikki Kovalainen (Fin) Lotus F1 1:28.79720. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Lotus F1 1:29.11121. Timo Glock (Ger) Virgin Racing 1:29.59222. Lucas di Grassi (Bra) Virgin Racing 1:30.18523. Bruno Senna (Bra) HRT-F1 1:30.52624. Karun Chandhok (Ind) HRT-F1 1:30.613Lewis HamiltonFormula OneJenson ButtonSebastian VettelRichard Williamsguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds

Jordan backs Hamilton for F1 title

Eddie Jordan believes the smart money should go on Britain's Lewis Hamilton to regain his Formula One world title this season.

Hamilton delighted by McLaren's latest design

Lewis Hamilton had his first taste here yesterday of the McLaren he hopes will carry him to the world championship this season, and pronounced himself satisfied.