F1 motor racing champ Lewis Hamilton accelerates music career

Lewis Hamilton, this year’s Formula 1 (F1) motor racing champion, is currently in the studio preparing to record his first album.

The F1 driver, who became the first Briton since 1973 to win the world championship twice, has always hinted that he wants to go into the music business when his car-racing days are over.

But it has since emerged that the sports star has already started in earnest. During an interview on BBC Newsbeat, the UK broadcaster’s flagship news programme on the music station Radio 1, Hamilton disclosed he has been writing songs.

He has also started developing ideas in recording studios and been collaborating with Angel, the British rapper, singer-songwriter and producer.

Apparently, he was recording while in Japan for a race in October. He goes looking for studios to work in whenever he is travelling, although he now owns one in the home he shares with US celebrity singer Nicole Scherzinger.

The music media has been quick to point out that he does not feature on Big Fat Lie, Scherzinger’s second studio album, which was released on 17 October on RCA.

In addition to Scherzinger, Hamilton said his influences include Prince, Jay-Z, Michael Jackson and Irish rock band Kodaline.

Hamilton races with the F1 Mercedes AMG Petronas team. His teammate Nico Rosberg was second in this year’s world championship.

[Juliana Koranteng]