Lewis's lucky charm! Stunning Nicole Scherzinger cheers on race car driver beau to a win at the Canadian Grand Prix
By ANN PRIDE
|
The former Pussycat Doll tried to blend in with the other WAGS as she arrived at the Gilles Villeneuve racetrack in Montreal holding Hamilton's hand.
The brunette beauty wore a demure white dress and focused her attention on her British beau, while trying to ignore the small army of assembled cameras that snapped her every move.
Devoted: Nicole Scherzinger arrived at the Gilles Villeneuve racetrack in Montreal, Canada on Sunday to cheer on boyfriend Lewis Hamilton
If all goes according to plan, Nicole could soon be spending a lot more time with Hamilton across the pond in the UK.
It has been widely reported that that ITV bosses plan to offer the 33-year-old a £500,000 contract to sign on to the X Factor, filling
Kelly Rowland’s old seat.
Kelly Rowland’s old seat.
Nicole was ditched as a judge on the US version of the series after just one season; but it seems show supremo Simon Cowell plans to make it up to the pretty brunette.
Multitasking: Lewis chatted on phone with one hand, while using the other to keep a close grip on Nicole
Hiding her curves: Nicole made sure not to distract attention from her man by covering up in a demure dress
Nicole could soon be sitting alongside judges Gary Barlow, Tulisa Contostavlos, and Louis Walsh.
According to The Sun it was Gary's support of Nicole which swayed the decision, after she recently filled in.
An insider told the paper: 'We are talking to Nicole about taking on the job full time. She is not the only person in the frame.'
'It's now down to money and whether she can commit to the show, which takes up most of the rest of the year.'
He's number one: Hamilton takes the checkered flag as he wins the Canadian Formula One Grand Prix
Way to go: Hamilton of Great Britain celebrates his success at the winner's podium
'She has given us positive signs, but no-one is counting their chickens after what happened with Dannii Minogue.'
Dannii pulled out of the role at the last minute, having been considered a sure bet for the job.
Nicole is clearly comfortable across the pond, and tweeted after filming auditions at London's O2 arena on Tuesday: Great day w/ @theXfactor @officialtulisa @gbarlowofficial @walshlife! We saw some amazing talent! Thanks UK for always being so kind to me! #grateful.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2157332/Nicole-Scherzinger-cheers-race-car-driver-beau-Lewis-Hamilton-win-Canadian-Grand-Prix.html#ixzz1xQtCbTw3
Lew beauty! Hamilton produces incredible final push to seal first win of the season
|
Hamilton perfectly executed a two-stop strategy to take his third Canadian Grand Prix victory, and with it reclaim the lead in the drivers' championship.
Come a breathtaking conclusion to the 70-lap race at Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve just seven seconds covered the top five drivers.
Champagne moment: Lewis Hamilton was delighted after his win put him back to the top of the standings
HOW THEY FINISHED IN MONTREAL
1. Lewis Hamilton
2. Romain Grosjean
3. Sergio Perez
4. Sebastian Vettel
5. Fernando Alonso
6. Nico Rosberg
7. Mark Webber
8. Kimi Raikkonen
9. Kamui Kobayashi
10. Felipe Massa
Hamilton was joined on the podium by Lotus' Romain Grosjean and Sergio Perez in his Sauber, the duo nursing their tyres to make a one-stop strategy pay dividends.
Asked whether his win felt incredible, Hamilton said: 'It does. Thanks to the team who never seem to give up. I want to dedicate this one to all the fans who are constantly sending me messages of support.
'I knew this would be a tough race, but I loved every single minute of it, and I never had a doubt in my mind there was not a possibility of not winning.
'I knew I had to keep pushing, opening the gap. I had a couple of problems pulling away (in my pit stops), maybe it was my fault, but it shows we can always keep improving.'
Summing up his emotions, Hamilton added: 'It's been five years since I won for the first time here, but it feels good. It feels great to finally be up here on the top step.'
At one stage it appeared as if double world champions Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso would join Hamilton on the podium - although in what order was unclear as the dying stages unfolded.
Leading from the front: Hamilton secured his first win of the season in Canada
Instead, Vettel was forced to settle for fourth in his Red Bull, whilst Alonso's Pirelli tyres fell off a cliff over the closing laps as six from home he was leading for Ferrari, but could only finish fifth.
It means having started the day fourth in the standings, Hamilton now has a two-point cushion to Alonso and three to Vettel, with a further six-point gap then to Mark Webber who was seventh behind Mercedes' Nico Rosberg.
From the 32nd pole of his career the start was straightforward enough for Vettel, in particular on one of the shortest rundowns to a first corner on the F1 calendar at 260 metres.
Up for the cup: Sauber's Sergio Perez secured a third-place finish thanks to a late charge of his own
In the early stages, however, Vettel was unable to execute his customary gameplan of opening a cushion to those behind him as the German, at the most, had a gap of 2.1secs to Hamilton.
It was at that stage Hamilton swiftly reeled in the 24-year-old come the first round of pit stops, although he had Alonso in his mirrors and pressing.
Red Bull and Vettel were the first to blink, initially switching from the quicker supersoft to the slightly slower more durable soft Pirelli compound.
Leading from the front: Hamilton took back his lead late on after a second pit stop
Hamilton and McLaren, however, worked the undercut to perfection as he pitted a lap later, despite a momentary stall from the Briton as he pulled away out of his pitbox.
That allowed Alonso to slingshot in front, and it became a question of whether he could follow Hamilton's lead and also work the undercut.
Unlike Hamilton, Ferrari kept Alonso on track for two laps, but again the tactic paid dividends, but only just as the Spaniard came out ahead of his former team-mate by a matter of yards.
On warmed-up rubber, though, Hamilton brilliantly carved his way past Alonso down the long straight into turn 13, opening up the DRS to assist his progress.
And they're off: Sebastian Vettel led the charge from the front of the grid but slipped but to fifth by the end
With Vettel in close attendance he too tried his luck soon after, but did not have enough to make a move stick and was forced to hold station in third.
There followed a lull and now the dilemma was whether it would be a one or two-stop strategy, with Hamilton in again of the leaders after 50 laps.
Not for the first time, though, this year from McLaren there was another slow stop, with trouble to the right-rear tyre that cost Hamilton two seconds as it lasted five rather than the average of three.
In a spin: Felipe Massa suffered an early setback when he spun off the track, only to recover
Several laps earlier Hamilton had specifically asked his team whether Alonso and Vettel would have to pit again, and he was told yes.
Trailing by nearly 15 seconds it was a case of whether they would make a one-stop plan work, or whether Hamilton had enough time to reel them in.
Bad day at the office: Michael Schumacher once again endured a difficult day on the track with his Mercedes
Come lap 62 he eased past Vettel, and then two laps later he delivered on Alonso who proceeded to go backwards as Grosjean and Perez knocked him off the podium on the following laps.
Even Vettel had time to pit for a second time, soon after being passed by Hamilton, and catch Alonso to claim fourth.
Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen, Kamui Kobayashi in his Sauber and Ferrari of Felipe Massa completed the top 10, with Force India's Paul di Resta 11th.
As for Jenson Button it was another afternoon to forget as not for the first time he was unable to make his tyres work, making three stops to finish 16th and trail Hamilton by 43 points.
The world watches: The weather held out on what was a spectacular occasion for all involved in Montreal
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/article-2157293/Canadian-Grand-Prix-Lewis-Hamilton-wins.html#ixzz1xQtpIwjH
