Campbell shared a selfie to which Payne commented: “Perfection in a person... don’t give me those eyes.” Campbell responded on a picture of Payne: “Takes one to know one”.

While the two have been keeping mum about their status, they have frequently been spotted attending the same events – although they have avoided being photographed together.

Campbell gave nothing away this month while appearing on the British television comedy chat show, The Jonathan Ross Show.

When the host, Jonathan Ross, said: “There have been a lot of headlines recently connecting you to Mr Liam Payne …” Campbell remained coy. “I never discuss my personal life. Another name?” she said.

While in Hong Kong the iconic model did give answers – to questions on the starting grid about why she loves Formula E and the future of fashion in Africa – while Payne told STYLE what had brought him to the city.

Have you been to any previous Formula E races?

No, this is the first one I’ve been to. But I met Alejandro [Agag, chairman of Formula E] a little while ago and he asked me to come down and join in, so I said yeah, and here we are.

We’ve just done a lap where they wanted me to do a self-portrait [selfie] but I did a portrait of Alejandro driving the car and it was the hardest thing to do with him going around the corners.

Are you a fan of racing?

I like racing cars. It’s the first time I’ve been to a Formula E event. I’ve been to one or two different motor racing events in the past. This is cool. It’s surprising how quiet the cars are as well, compared to other sports.

It’s very very quick [in the cars], I couldn’t believe how fast we were going when I looked down [at the speedometer]. When we took off I was thinking, ‘Whoah!’.

Before meeting Alejandro, had you heard of formula E before?

I had definitely heard of it before. This is the first time I’ve been to Hong Kong as a solo artist. It’s my first visit back to the country since I came with the band last time. So I have a lot of different memories here: it’s nice to be back.

It’s great to be here doing this. What a beautiful picturesque race [it is] having the Hong Kong skyline in the background – one of the only skylines where you get mountains and buildings and everything in one.

I think obviously for the youth, as well, it’s a great message to spread having this more sustainable sport. I didn’t realise that it’s the only motorsport where they use the same tyres for both wet and dry [racing conditions]. So I think it’s a great message to send [out].

How did you meet founder of Formula E Alejandro Agag?

We met through a friend of a friend and we’ve been trying to get this together for a couple of years now, [for me] to come down and join in. And it just kind of fell on the right day, so I managed to make it down this time.

One of the best things is coming back to Hong Kong and reliving those memories and stuff that I did before, when I was younger. I haven't been here in about four or five years – so it’s quite a long time.

What do you think attracts a young audience to Formula E?

I think the sustainability aspect for one, because we’re the future generation of this planet so it’s important that we spread the message about those sorts of things.

We just went out in the BMW i8 for the first time – amazing cars and amazing speeds that they still manage to reach, but with a sustainable source, which is pretty cool.

What do you make of where we have the race circuit?

I think it’s great, and next year they’re doing the ExCeL London [exhibition centre], which is going to be super exciting. It’s one of the first races where its held indoors and outdoors at the same time. I think it will be very cool, so hopefully Alejandro will invite me to that one.

What else have you been up to in the city?

I’ve had loads of different foods, I’ve had my name written in Mandarin which looks quite cool. But I’m not going to make the Ariana Grande mistake of getting the wrong thing tattooed, just in case …

Who knows? I’ve always wanted to get a tattoo in Mandarin, but I feel like I would just land up getting something off a menu and getting it completely wrong.

There’s always a risk because someone will tell you, but you don’t know if they’re taking the p*ss or not.

What did she [Ariana Grande] get? She got “barbecue finger” or something like that.

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