Russian model lifts the lid on Lewis Hamilton 'romance'
Instagram model Viktoria Odintcova has spilled the beans on her ‘romantic’ relationship with Lewis Hamilton.
Russian model Odintcova, 26, claims the Formula One superstar pursued her after he broke up with Nicole Scherzinger.
Hamilton and pop star Scherzinger dated for a number of years before going their separate ways in 2015.
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Since then Hamilton has seemingly remained single, however Odintcova claims they had a brief ‘romantic’ relationship.
“We had different types of relationship. At a certain period of time it was romantic. He was courting me,” Odintcova said in an interview with Peopletalk TV.
“But then this relationship evolved into friendship.
“I live in Russia and he lives abroad. We just became friends who can message each other and send holiday greetings.”
The TV host who boasts an impressive 5.1 million Instagram followers, says she met Hamilton in Barcelona in 2016.
“It was after Nicole Scherzinger,” Odintcova said.
“We met in Barcelona three or four years ago. We have been on good terms since then, he’s my friend.
“We don’t have any romantic (relations). We can call each other asking, ‘How are you doing? Let’s drink coffee someday’. That’s it.”
Odintcova previously hinted at the fling with Hamilton.
“The most famous person in my phone book is Lewis Hamilton,” she said last year.
“We’re friends, we just write to each other and call sometimes. He’s in the friend zone …
“I go to his races occasionally, the last time was in Sochi (at the Russian Grand Prix).
“I understand that he’s a normal guy, we message each other on Instagram.”
Hamilton equals Michael Schumacher record
Meanwhile, Hamilton won the Hungarian Grand Prix from pole for Mercedes on Sunday to claim a record equalling eighth top spot at one race and take the lead in the Formula One championship.
Hamilton was imperious on a drying track under dark Budapest clouds as more rain threatened but didn't fall and he coasted to an 86th career victory and second of the season.
The Briton - who lapped both Ferraris - triumphed ahead of Red Bull's Max Verstappen who finished second despite a crash on his way to the grid and starting from seventh. Valtteri Bottas in the second Mercedes was third.
Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo was eighth in his Renault after starting the race from 11th place on the grid.
Hamilton's eight wins at the Hungaroring since a first one in 2007 draw him level with former great Michael Schumacher who won the French GP eight times
Hamilton is now just five grands prix wins away from Schumacher's leading 91 and he can also emulate the German if he wins a seventh world title.
He tops the standings with 63 points from three races thanks to his second win in a row, five ahead of Bottas.
“It was one of my favourite races. I was on my own but we had great pace and a perfect strategy. The last two races have been fantastic for me and we need to keep it up,” Hamilton said.
Verstappen said: “The mechanics did an amazing job to fix the car. To pay them back with second place - I was pleased with that. To be able to split the two Mercedes is good for us.”
with AAP
