Fernando Alonso goes public with stunning new girlfriend Andrea Schlager after whisking her to US for Miami GP

FERNANDO ALONSO has confirmed he is in a relationship with Austrian beauty Andrea Schlager.

It had been rumoured the couple had started dating after becoming friendly on social media.

They first met in the Formula One paddock with Schlager a sports presenter for ServusTV network.

Both Schlager and Alonso dropped hints at a romantic relationship on Instagram, commenting and liking each other's photos at first.

Schlager, 39, then shared a photo of her wearing a smaller version of Alonso's helmet - with the Spaniard posting a pic of his now-girlfriend riding a horse.

After competing in the Miami Grand Prix at the weekend Alonso shared a series of photos of his American adventure, some of which featured Schlager.

He captioned the  post: "Thank you Miami, see you next year with even more desire and better!"

Schlager started out in F1 working in former supremo Bernie Ecclestone's office, and has covered the sport for ServusTV since the start of last season.

Alonso, 40, was previously married to Spanish singer Raquel del Rosario until they divorced in 2011, and recently dated Linda Morselli.

The Spaniard is still on good terms with his ex-wife however, with Del Rosario commenting a love eyes emoji under Alonso's post about Schlager.

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Alonso will now turn his focus for his home Grand Prix next with F1 travelling to Barcelona at the end of next week.

It is the last race where Lewis Hamilton will not be punished for wearing jewellery after he was given a medical exemption by the FIA.

But F1's governing body is set to clamp down on the Mercedes star if he continues to break the rules by wearing piercings - with a fine or possibly a ban heading Hamilton's way.