Lewis Hamilton may be a seven-time Formula 1 World Champ, but at home he’s always been just a dog dad to Roscoe. On Monday, September 29, the 40-year-old Ferrari star shared heartbreaking news: his beloved four-legged companion has died at age 12.
Hamilton posted a carousel of photos of his pup on Instagram, explaining that after four days on life support, he had to make “the hardest decision” of his life — choosing to let Roscoe go so he wouldn’t suffer any longer. “He never stopped fighting, right until the very end,” he wrote, calling his bulldog “a beautiful soul, an angel and true friend.” Hamilton said bringing Roscoe into his life back in 2013 was “the best decision I ever made,” adding that he passed peacefully in his arms on Sunday evening.
The post quickly exploded online, racking up millions of likes and thousands of comments. Fans flooded the replies with condolences like, “The greatest act of love is letting go of someone you love… Rest in peace, Roscoe, and to you, Lewis, a hug from afar,” and, “I’m sorry Lewis, thank you for sharing Roscoe with the world!”
Fellow athletes and celebrities joined in too.
Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn wrote, “Roscoe was special. They never stay with us long enough but they make our lives so much better. Sending lots of love 💔🙏🏻🕊️.” Model and actress Sara Sampaio added, “I’m so sorry for your loss. Sending you much love ❤️🩹.” Fellow F1 driver Zhou Guanyu kept it simple with a string of heart emojis, while the official Australian Grand Prix account shared, “Rest in peace Roscoe ❤️ We’ll miss seeing you around the overseas paddocks.”
Over the years, Roscoe earned his stripes as more than just a sideline companion. Adopted in 2013, he became a fixture in the F1 paddock, often seen strolling race venues with his own pass and greeting fans at awards ceremonies. His Instagram, managed by Hamilton, grew to over 1.4 million followers, with a bio that cheekily reads: “I’m a vegan bulldog that loves to travel, play ball and get attention from all the girls, especially when they rub my bum. I like frisbee and tennis🌱.”
In interviews, Hamilton spoke fondly of his pup’s personality. He once told Vogue that Roscoe is “the kindest, such a sweetheart. Anyone can approach him from anywhere. He has never attacked anyone ever. He’s super, super easy. He doesn’t go crazy around other dogs. He’s just probably the most mellow dog there is, really, until he sees a bowling ball or football.”
