Oct.18 (GMM) Martin Whitmarsh has refused to comment on whether it is Lewis Hamilton's troubled private life that is steering his formula one career on the wrong track.

Despite winning pole position and finishing a fighting second in Korea last weekend, the 2008 world champion was visibly and audibly despondent on the back of a terrible run of form and on and off-track incidents.

The Swiss newspaper Blick reports that his girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger has linked up with "a new man", pushing Hamilton in a foul mood that is affecting his job.

"The McLaren mechanics are upset with Lewis," reported veteran correspondent Roger Benoit, "because he treated them so coldly in Korea.

"They say he is behaving like a stubborn child."

Hamilton, 26, hinted at his split by saying he has received "massive support" from those close to him in the past days in the form of "emails from my brother, my mum and in particular my dad".

Team boss Whitmarsh also hinted at behind-the-scenes troubles by telling the PA Sport news agency that "professionally, he's happy".

"I comment on his professional life," said the McLaren principal.

"He says he is happy, and any other enquiry regarding his state of happiness should be directed to Lewis and not me."

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version