Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, has made the heartfelt decision to pull out of a Pirelli tyre test this week to be with his beloved bulldog, Roscoe, who is currently in a coma.
Hamilton, 40, was scheduled to attend the 2026 prototype tyre test at Italy’s Mugello circuit on Friday. Instead, Ferrari’s reserve driver Zhou Guanyu stepped in to take his place after Roscoe was rushed to hospital with severe pneumonia.
Sharing a deeply emotional update on Instagram, Hamilton revealed the distressing turn of events. “Roscoe caught pneumonia again and was struggling to breathe. He was admitted into hospital and sedated to calm him while they did checks on him and during the process his heart stopped."
He continued, "They managed to get a heartbeat back and now he’s in a coma. We don’t know whether he will wake from this. Tomorrow we’ll try to wake him up. I’m by his side and want to thank you all for your prayers and support.”
Photos posted alongside the message show Roscoe hooked up to oxygen, with Hamilton sitting loyally by his side. The bulldog, who has amassed over 1.3 million followers on Instagram, has been a constant companion for Hamilton since he adopted him in 2013.
Known for his gentle nature, Roscoe has earned admiration far beyond the racing world. Hamilton once told Vogue, “He 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.”
Roscoe’s charm doesn’t stop there. Hamilton shared lighthearted stories about his furry friend’s quirky habits. “He likes fancy, fancy sneakers,” Hamilton joked. “He picks up my Dior trainers and always takes them with him. He’s so bougie.”
He also recounted the time they went to the movies together, saying, “It was 3D, and he sat on the chair next to me, and I put 3D glasses on him, and he sat there watching it for five minutes, and I just couldn’t stop laughing... Then he passed out on the chair, and he was snoring the whole movie. Everyone in the theater was laughing because you could hear him snoring loud.”
The bond between Hamilton and Roscoe has touched many fans worldwide. Roscoe is often seen traveling with the F1 star to races, starring in commercials, and even making an appearance in the recent Formula 1 movie.
Hamilton’s fans and fellow drivers have expressed their support during this difficult time. Former teammate George Russell wrote, “Thinking of you mate,” reflecting the widespread concern for Roscoe’s condition.
As Hamilton remains by Roscoe’s side, he asks fans to keep his loyal bulldog in their thoughts. “Please keep Roscoe in your thoughts,” he urged in his heartfelt social media post.