In an emotional interview, triumphant but heartbroken racing driver Lewis Hamilton on Sunday dedicated his victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix to his former girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger.
After describing how he prayed and found himself in a "mellow place" before the race that freed his mind to focus on winning, he admitted that he had been thinking only of Scherzinger, the former Pussycat Doll who he dated for five years.
"Winning is just the greatest, of course," said Hamilton, whose victory was his first since leaving McLaren to race for Mercedes this year and the 22nd of his career.
"But I feel like...the thought on my mind through the whole race was of someone who is special to me and I wanted to dedicate it to her..."
Asked if that person was Scherzinger, he nodded.
Then, asked if he had struggled with his emotions in preparing for the race, he said: "Yes, it's been the toughest couple of months of my life.
"Coming into the race, my parents were concerned for me and just wanted to try to lift my spirits and help me keep my focus on, and clearly it's not affected my driving.
"I've been driving great and I've been very happy with how I've been qualifying for the last couple of races, but it just doesn't feel the same nowadays.
"A couple of years ago we were here together and I think I won, so I have great memories."
Hamilton, 28, and Scherzinger, 35, endured something of a roller-coaster romance as they lived on different continents and had demanding jobs and lifestyles.
Their break-up earlier this month was their third since 2007 and left Hamilton, who had talked of possible marriage, revealing his feelings on Twitter.
Last week, he tweeted: "If you've found that special someone, don't EVER let them go no matter what!! Nothing in this world is more important".
To distract himself, he flew to Los Angeles to record a few tracks and keep alive his interest in music -- a trip he verified with photographs also published on Twitter.
The last time Hamilton and Scherzinger were seen together in public was at the Canadian Grand Prix in early June.
AFP
Sun Jul 28 2013
SDG: UTP lahir pelajar berkemahiran, tinggi tanggungjawab sosial
UTP berhasrat mendidik pelajar bukan sahaja untuk mahir dalam aspek teknikal tetapi juga untuk menjadi warganegara yang bertanggungjawab.
MAA semak semula unjuran jualan kenderaan 2024 kepada 765,000 unit
Persatuan Automotif Malaysia (MAA) telah menyemak semula unjuran jualan kenderaan bermotor baharu bagi 2024 kepada 765,000 unit daripada anggaran sebelumnya sebanyak 740,000 unit.
RUU 355: Pindaan perlu untuk praktikaliti, keadilan
Apa sahaja pindaan terhadap akta itu perlu berjalan selari dengan persediaan mereka yang bertanggungjawab melaksanakannya.
Rasionalisasi RON95 dijangka beri impak lebih besar kepada PKS - SAMENTA
SAMENTA menjangkakan rasionalisasi RON95 akan memberi impak yang lebih besar kepada perusahaan kecil dan sederhana (PKS) berbanding pelarasan subsidi diesel.
Malaysia sasar pengeluaran 40 peratus sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030
Malaysia menyasarkan pengeluaran 40 peratus hasil sektor akuakultur menjelang 2030 dalam usaha membantu mengimbangi keperluan perikanan negara.
10 Berita Pilihan - (16 Julai 2024
Antara pelbagai berita dalam dan luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
PAC beri tempoh tiga bulan kepada HRD Corp
Jawatankuasa Kira-kira Wang Negara (PAC) memberi tempoh tiga bulan kepada Perbadanan Pembangunan Sumber Manusia (HRD Corp) untuk mengemukakan laporan tindakan susulan terhadap syor jawatankuasa itu.
Kylian Mbappe tandatangan kontrak dengan Real Madrid
Bintang bola sepak Perancis Kylian Mbappe menandatangani kontrak selama lima tahun dengan kelab Sepanyol Real Madrid pada Selasa.
Pelepasan ketujuh air sisa nuklear Fukushima ke laut selesai
Jepun telah menyelesaikan pusingan ketujuh pelepasan air sisa radioaktif yang dirawat dari loji kuasa nuklear Fukushima Daiichi ke Lautan Pasifik pada Selasa.
Empat termasuk kapten maut dalam pertempuran
Empat anggota tentera India termasuk kapten meninggal dunia akibat kecederaan selepas pertempuuran pada malam isnin di Hutan Desa.