Lewis Hamilton records secret R&B album

Lewis Hamilton doesn't spend his free time watching Top Gear or playing Out Run

He's been secretly renting a top west London studio to record R&B tracks.

The McLaren F1 star is a huge music fan and wanted the opportunity to lay down some of his own material using state-of-the-art facilities — which have also been used by superstars including Robbie Williams and Kylie Minogue.

But sadly we won't be hearing any of his singing. It's just for his own pleasure.

A source said: "Not many people know Lewis has been making music in his spare time.

"He's really into his R&B and has been cutting lots of songs that fit in with his taste. At the moment he's fully focused on F1 so it's unlikely any of the tracks will be made public.

"But he's had good feedback from the few people who have heard them."

Lewis has been renting the whole complex to ensure he's not spotted by anyone.

It costs a few bob but the millionaire former world champion is hardly short of cash.

It's a shame he doesn't fancy handing out some of his CDs to radio stations, or even posting tracks online.


He wouldn't be the first F1 driver to try pop stardom.

Another former world champion, Jacques Villeneuve released an album in 2007 called Private Paradise.

Naturally it bombed — but that shouldn't put Lewis off.

Other sportsmen at the top of their game have had more success in the music biz. Boxer Manny Pacquiao released a cover of ballad Sometimes When We Touch, which got to No19 in the US Billboard Charts this year.

And who could forget Paul Gasgoigne's collaboration with Lindisfarne in 1990, when Fog On The Tyne reached No2 in the UK charts?

If a pop career isn't for Lewis, at least he will have plenty of driving music to listen to when he's bombing around the track.

It'll make a nice change from listening to The Chain by Fleetwood Mac on repeat for 60-odd laps.
Source: The Sun

Hamilton: Have fun but don’t drink and drive

Lewis Hamilton went underground yesterday to launch Diageo’s Responsible Drinking Campaign and their sponsorship of free travel around the UK capital on New Year’s Eve

Thanks to Vodafone McLaren Mercedes partner Diageo, Londoners will be able to party and get home safely, with free travel from 23:45 on New Year’s Eve until 04:30 on New Year’s Day on the capital’s transport services including tube trains, buses and trams, and on London overground trains until their last service of the night. At selected central London Underground stations Diageo will be giving out top tips and free bottles of water on some of the busiest party nights of the year.

Speaking at the launch Lewis said: “Whilst we all want to have a good time this party season, a good time will be a better one if you can remember it and get home safely. Diageo sponsoring free travel is going to make it a little easier for us all to get home this New Year’s Eve and this campaign will remind us to drink responsibly for a great night out.

“Through my work with Diageo on Johnnie Walker for the Join the Pact campaign I have been part of many responsible drinking initiatives and I hope today serves as a timely reminder to people in London to have fun but be responsible.”

London Mayor Boris Johnson described the deal as “fantastic” for partygoers. “London has a tremendous amount to offer over the festive period and this will allow people to welcome in the New Year in the world’s most fantastic city, and still get home cheaply and safely, late into the night.”

Source: YallaF1

Video: Felipe Massa opens Ferrari's Atelier at the Berkeley hotel in Knightsbridge

Scuderia Ferrari driver, Felipe Massa, was in London's fashionable Knightsbridge today to officially open the Prancing Horse's latest Atelier at The Berkeley Hotel, one of London's most prestigious 5-star luxury hotels




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Video: McLaren Automotive opens its first showroom in London (One Hyde Park)

Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button with McLaren Automotive Executive Chairman, Ron Dennis in London



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Photos: Lewis Hamilton at The BRIT Awards 2011

Lewis Hamilton and his half-brother Nicholas to attend the BRIT music awards at the O2 Arena in London

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Full Lotus court battle set for March 21

A High Court judge has set a March 21 trial date for the Lotus naming dispute, meaning two teams will start the season using the historic name.

Group Lotus had applied for a summary judgement on Monday in the hope its side of the argument would be so conclusive that a decision would be made immediately. However, Mr Justice Peter Smith said all the claims would be settled at a hearing at London's High Court in eight weeks time, the earliest possible date both sides could agree on.

The trial will start on the second Monday after the Bahrain Grand Prix, meaning both teams will turn up at the season opener under Lotus signage and one may have to change its identity midway through the season.

Monday's hearing focused on Group Lotus' decision to withdraw Team Lotus' naming rights, but the full trial will deal with further issues of breach of contract and Group Lotus' use of Lotus' F1 history, which Team Lotus' says it owns.

The whole issue stems from Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar's decision to end his company's naming rights deal with Tony Fenrandes' Team Lotus (which was in place before Bahar joined in 2009) and sponsor a more established team instead. That prompted Fernandes to buy the naming rights to the original Team Lotus, which had been dormant since 1994 and were owned by David Hunt.

Group Lotus believes it has the sole right to use the Lotus brand in Formula One, while Fernandes is confident he has bought the separate Team Lotus brand from Hunt. Due to the complexities of the case it is very difficult to predict when a final decision will be reached, and if there are grounds for appeal it is almost certain it will rumble on.

Source: ESPNF1

Lotus dispute to hit High Court next week

Time is running out for the Lotus naming dispute to be solved before it hits London’s High Court.

Group Lotus CEO Dany Bahar said on Monday that he thinks the branding debacle, with the entirely separate Team Lotus also intending to use the name this season, will be "solved" before British legal action kicks off.

But it has emerged that the court hearings are scheduled to commence next week, after both sides appointed lawyers.

On January 24 (Monday), the High Court will hear Group Lotus’ application for a summary judgement - a ruling that would not require a subsequent trial.

Chief executive Riad Asmat said Team Lotus is pushing ahead for the 2011 season with no plans for a further rebranding.

"We know we are Team Lotus, so it’s really not an issue for us," he told the BBC. "It (the dispute) is what it is.

"We have a five-year plan. It’s unfortunate they (Group Lotus) decided to go their own way for reasons which to me are trivial."

Asmat also played down Bahar’s comments on Monday about the matter being solved amicably before the court action begins.

"We haven’t heard anything from them - we haven’t talked to them recently," he revealed.

Source: Nextgen

Ecclestone injured in London mugging

MUGGERS punched and kicked Bernie Ecclestone to the ground as they grabbed a £200,000 haul from the Formula One boss and his Brazilian girlfriend

The pint-size billionaire, 80, was rushed to hospital with a head injury after the ambush - on his doorstep.

Four robbers were lying in wait at 10.30pm as he and new love Fabiana Flosi, 31, arrived at the F1 tycoon's central London HQ, where he has a spectacular eighth-floor penthouse overlooking Hyde Park.

Terrified lawyer Fabiana - who is also a sports marketing agent and model - watched helplessly as her mega-rich boyfriend was battered. Both were ordered to remove watches and jewellery.

Cops raced to the Knightsbridge HQ of the tycoon's business empire Formula One Holdings but the gang had fled with the loot.

Mr Ecclestone was taken to hospital where he was treated for what was described as a "minor" injury. Hours later he was defiantly back at work.

A red mark was visible on his right hand as his chauffeur dropped him at a meeting yesterday.

Fabiana was described as having been left "shaken".

Scotland Yard's Robbery Squad was last night hunting the muggers, whose haul included diamond rings. The same gang is feared to be behind a string of attacks on the rich and famous.

A senior police source said: "There can be little doubt this was a targeted robbery because of who Mr Ecclestone is.

The muggers were callous and showed little regard for the victims. They need to be caught."

Mr Ecclestone last year divorced his wife Slavica, 53. The couple have two grown-up daughters. As well as his penthouse and a string of properties around the world he has kept the family's £10million mansion in Chelsea Square.

Four years ago thieves swooped after he parked a brand new Mercedes-Benz CLS55 AMG outside. The car - said to be the first in Britain - had two of its wheels nicked.

Source: The Sun

[Photos] Button on London triathlon

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Button completes London triathlon

Jenson Button overcame a bout of tonsillitis to finish the London Triathlon on Sunday.

The reigning world champion completed the Olympic-distance course in Docklands, consisting of a 1500-metre swim, a 40km bike ride and a 10km run, in 2:14:15.

His time was seven minutes slower than his attempt last year, but the McLaren driver admitted he had been suffering with illness.

"I wasn't feeling very well at the start of the week, which is why I have come in a bit slower than last time round," Button said. "I really didn't want to miss out on the weekend, though, as I had such a fantastic time here last year, so I just decided to battle through it."

Source: ESPNF1

Jenson Button interview Westfield boutique London

Following our Jenson Button Contest early July, watch the exclusive interviews with Jenson Button at the Westfield boutique in London.

Source: TAGHeuerOnline's Channel

Mark Webber pit stops Red Bull Formula 1 car in London

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[Video] Lotus 2010 launch in London