Lewis Hamilton has shared a heartfelt message after the loss of his cherished bulldog, Roscoe, who passed away on Sunday, 28 September. The seven-time Formula 1 world champion expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support he received from the F1 community and fans during this difficult time, highlighting the special bond he shared with Roscoe.
Emotional Farewell to Roscoe After Life Support Battle
Roscoe had been hospitalised at the end of the previous week and remained on life support for four days before Hamilton made the painful decision to say goodbye.
“After four days on life support, fighting with every bit of strength he had, I had to make the hardest decision of my life and say goodbye to Roscoe,”
the driver revealed. He described Roscoe as a
“beautiful soul, an angel and true friend”
who never stopped fighting until the end. Hamilton treasured the memories they created together and called bringing Roscoe into his life the best decision he ever made.
Reflecting on the Pain of Losing a Beloved Pet
Hamilton opened up about how difficult it was to make the decision to euthanize Roscoe, especially as this was his first experience with putting a dog to sleep, in contrast to the loss of his other dog, Coco.
“Although I lost Coco, I have never been faced with putting a dog to sleep before, though I know my mum and many close friends have. It is one of the most painful experiences and I feel a deep connection to everyone who has gone through the loss of a beloved pet,”
Hamilton explained. He emphasized how much having Roscoe enriched his life, describing the experience of loving and being loved by a pet as one of the most beautiful parts of life.
Support from the Formula 1 Community
Hamilton received numerous messages of sympathy and encouragement from fellow drivers, teams, the FIA, and the broader F1 organisation. He described the outpouring of kindness as “heartwarming,” noting the challenge of responding to everyone individually.
“Yeah, lots of messages. Quite overwhelming, to be honest, to see just how many people Roscoe touched around the world, and really heartwarming to receive,”
he said prior to the Singapore Grand Prix. Hamilton acknowledged how meaningful it was to feel such widespread support during an emotionally tough moment.
Looking Ahead to the Singapore Grand Prix With Determination
Despite his grief, Hamilton expressed his eagerness to get back to racing and focus on the upcoming weekend at the Marina Bay Street Circuit. He recognized the support from fans, the tifosi, and his team as motivation in pursuit of a strong performance.
“I think there’s a lot of people that deserve a good result from my side and this team, the tifosi and the people that have been following me and all the people, as I said, that have been checking in and been so supportive over this past whole year, but also particularly this past week,”
he remarked. He added that moments like these reveal the true value of community, saying,
“I think it’s in moments like that where you really see people show up for you. And that’s been, as I said, really overwhelming to see and really well welcomed.”
Significance of Roscoe’s Impact and Hamilton’s Resilience
The passing of Roscoe marked a deeply personal loss for Lewis Hamilton, underscoring the strong emotional bond between humans and their pets. The support from across the Formula 1 paddock highlighted how Roscoe had become a beloved figure in the racing community. Moving forward, Hamilton’s reflection on this experience and the motivation drawn from his supporters suggest he is prepared to channel his emotions into his racing career, continuing to pursue success on and off the track.
