Lewis Hamilton: Long distance with Nicole is the 'norm'

Lewis Hamilton talks to Tina from The Chris Moyles Show

Lewis Hamilton reckons his long distance relationship with girlfriend Nicole Scherzinger is the "norm".

The Formula 1 driver spoke to Newsbeat ahead of his race at this weekend's British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

He says of their three-year relationship: "I haven't seen her for a few weeks now but we Skype, we chat, we message a million times a day.

"It's almost as if we're together but we're just thousands of miles away from each other."

He added: "Even if it's just for a day I'll fly all the way over to Los Angeles. You land there, you have a great dinner and you leave the next day."

Lewis also says he is hoping to fly over to watch Nicole as a judge on the US version of the X Factor.

"I don't get to see too much of it because it's obviously in America," he said. "I'm looking forward to going to watch as a spectator."

But Lewis also described how hard his girlfriend has been working on the programme.

"She is massively dedicated to whatever she puts her mind to, I honestly don't know another female that works as hard as her."

The driver is currently fourth in the F1 table.

He has been under pressure in recent weeks after two accidents in Monaco and three incidents in Montreal including a collision with McLaren teammate Jenson Button.