'Friendship custody battle?' Fans joke about Lewis Hamilton after Shaun White and Nina Dobrev split

Formula 1 fans have reacted with humor online following the news that Olympic snowboarder Shaun White and actress Nina Dobrev have ended their five-year engagement. The pair, who are both close friends of Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton, announced their separation earlier this week, sparking playful speculation among fans about Hamilton’s role in the friendship dynamic. 

Dobrev, widely recognized for her leading role in The Vampire Diaries, and White, a three-time Olympic gold medalist in snowboarding, had been part of a well-known friendship circle with Hamilton. Their breakup led to a flood of social media comments, with fans joking, “Who do you think is getting Lewis Hamilton in the divorce?” while others suggested the F1 driver would remain close to both. Some users admitted they were surprised to learn of the trio’s connection, while others quipped about shared holidays and time spent between the couple’s homes.

White has previously spoken about his admiration for Hamilton, calling him “an amazing guy” and sharing that they have snowboarded together. He also named Hamilton his favorite Formula 1 driver, noting their bond over sports and shared passions.

Hamilton, meanwhile, is in his first season with Ferrari after moving from Mercedes ahead of the 2025 campaign. Despite a challenging start, with a best finish of fourth place in 15 races so far, the seven-time world champion continues to chase a podium to extend his long-standing record of consecutive podium seasons.

While the separation of White and Dobrev has little to do with motorsport directly, Hamilton’s close ties to the couple have made the announcement a trending topic within the F1 fan community.