Lewis Hamilton withdraws from F1 tyre test to be with ailing dog Roscoe

Ferrari driver Lewis Hamilton’s dog Roscoe is described on social media as a “vegan bulldog that loves to travel and play ball.” The dog has been his companion since 2013, often accompanying the British driver to Grand Prix weekends. The dog, who reportedly has his own paddock pass and has traveled by private jet, has become a beloved figure in the motorsport community. However, Roscoe’s health has deteriorated in recent months, with a pneumonia diagnosis in April 2025 marking the beginning of a challenging period. Hamilton had previously spoken about the emotional toll of Roscoe before the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix.

With the health issues with Roscoe, seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton has withdrawn from a scheduled Pirelli tyre

test at Italy’s Mugello Circuit on Friday, September 26 to remain by the side of his beloved bulldog. The 12-year-old dog, a familiar presence in the F1 paddock and a social media star with 1.3 million Instagram followers, is in a coma following complications from pneumonia. Hamilton shared an emotional update on Instagram, revealing the gravity of Roscoe’s condition. “It’s been a scary few hours,” he wrote. “He was admitted into hospital and sedated to calm him while they did checks on him, and during the process his heart stopped,” Hamilton further wrote on Instagram.

Zhou Guanyu replaces Lewis Hamliton alongside Charles Leclerc at Mugello

Pirelli tyre test was designed to evaluate prototype tyres for the 2026 F1 season. Ferrari confirmed that Chinese reserve driver Zhou Guanyu, who previously raced for Sauber, would replace Lewis Hamilton alongside teammate Charles Leclerc at Mugello. The test involved a modified “mule” car to simulate 2026 F1 car handling, aiding Pirelli in gathering critical data. Zhou, one of Ferrari’s reserve drivers alongside Antonio Giovinazzi, stepped in to ensure the team’s testing objectives were met.

Despite recovering enough to attend the British Grand Prix at Silverstone in July, where he sported a red harness with Hamilton’s LH44 branding, Roscoe’s health has taken a severe turn.

As Hamilton prepares to travel to Singapore for the next Grand Prix from October 1 to 3, 2025, the uncertainty surrounding Roscoe’s recovery looms large. The veterinary team plans to attempt to wake Roscoe from his coma on Saturday, a procedure Hamilton will attend before resuming his racing commitments. The F1 community has rallied around Hamilton, with fans and fellow drivers expressing solidarity. As the motorsport world awaits news on Roscoe’s condition, Hamilton’s vigil by his side reflects a universal sentiment of loyalty and love for a cherished companion.