Lewis Hamilton praises fans after break-up from Nicole Scherzinger

The F1 world champion thanked fans for helping him through a “tough time”, which also saw him spin his Mercedes in the season’s opening winter test.

Scherzinger was regularly spotted in Hamilton’s garage as the Brit edged team-mate Nico Rosberg to the 2014 drivers’ title – and featured prominently in the celebrations that unfolded at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

But Hamilton cut a subdued figure at the recent Jerez test amid reports that his relationship was over.

He completed just 43 laps on Wednesday’s final day before losing control of his Mercedes and causing the session to be temporarily red-flagged.

The Brit’s social media announcement comes just 24 hours after Scherzinger admitted she still loved the F1 superstar.

"I'm devastated that it didn't work out," she told The Sun. "I love Lewis and I know he loves me. We wish nothing but happiness and the very best for one another."

To make matters even worse, Hamilton’s team-mate Nico Rosberg clocked more than 300 laps in Jerez as the German laid down his title ambitions at the earliest opportunity.

The 2015 season gets underway with the Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 15.