On a misty autumn evening in Monte Carlo on September 29, 2025, Lewis Hamilton, the seven-time Formula 1 world champion, stood before a small gathering of family, friends, and journalists, his voice trembling as he shared a deeply personal decision: to lay his beloved bulldog, Roscoe, to rest in his native England. Roscoe, the 13-year-old canine companion who had been Hamilton’s shadow through a career of triumphs and trials, passed away on September 22 after a valiant battle with a heart condition. For Hamilton, 40, England isn’t just his birthplace in Stevenage—it’s a tapestry of memories woven with Roscoe’s unwavering loyalty, from quiet walks in Hertfordshire fields to jubilant moments celebrating F1 victories. The announcement, made in a heartfelt press conference organized by his Mission 44 foundation, moved attendees to tears, cementing Roscoe’s legacy as more than a pet but a symbol of love that transcended the racetrack.
Roscoe, adopted by Hamilton in 2012, was no ordinary dog. With his soulful eyes, vegan diet, and 1.2 million Instagram followers, he became an F1 icon, skateboarding through Monaco’s streets and napping in paddocks from Silverstone to Singapore. His presence softened Hamilton’s steely champion persona, offering solace through the sport’s highs—like his 2020 seventh title—and lows, including the controversial 2021 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Diagnosed with a congenital heart defect in early 2025, Roscoe’s health declined despite exhaustive treatment, leading to a tearful farewell at Clinique Vétérinaire Monaco, where his final paw-nuzzle to Hamilton and caregiver Angela Cullen left the room sobbing. “Roscoe was my best mate, my family,” Hamilton said, his voice cracking. “He deserves to rest where our story began—England, home.”
The decision to bury Roscoe in England reflects Hamilton’s deep ties to his roots. Born in a modest Stevenage council estate, Hamilton often escaped pressure with Roscoe in tow, walking through the rolling fields of Hertfordshire or along the Thames. “We’d wander for hours, just me and him,” Hamilton recalled, wiping tears. “He’d chase rabbits, then flop down like he owned the place. Those moments kept me grounded.” The chosen site, a private plot near his childhood home, holds special significance: it’s where a young Lewis, fresh off karting wins, would play with his first dog, Coco, and later Roscoe, dreaming of F1 glory. “England shaped me, and Roscoe was part of that,” he said. “It’s only right he rests there.”
The announcement came during a Mission 44 event to launch the “Roscoe’s Run” initiative, a £500,000 fund for UK and Monaco animal shelters, matched by fan donations topping £200,000. Hamilton, now racing for Ferrari in his 2025 championship chase, detailed plans for a private burial ceremony in October, attended by family, including parents Anthony and Carmen, and close F1 allies like Angela Cullen and Toto Wolff. A small memorial—a stone engraved with “Roscoe: Forever 44” and a paw print—will mark the site, surrounded by wildflowers to honor Roscoe’s free spirit. “I want kids to visit, to feel his joy,” Hamilton said, envisioning a quiet space open to local schools.
The F1 community has rallied around Hamilton’s grief. Ferrari, fresh off their compassionate leave plan for the Singapore Grand Prix, will dedicate their October Japanese Grand Prix to Roscoe, with Hamilton’s car sporting a bulldog decal and a helmet featuring Roscoe’s silhouette under stars. Charles Leclerc, Hamilton’s teammate, shared a memory on X: “Roscoe greeted me with a slobbery grin every race. This one’s for him.” Fans, under #RoscoeInEngland, flooded X with 5 million posts, sharing photos of Roscoe at Silverstone, where he once “stole” Hamilton’s helmet, sparking laughter in the Mercedes garage. A fan-led mural in Stevenage, depicting Roscoe with angel wings, has become a pilgrimage site, with tributes from drivers like Lando Norris and Max Verstappen.
Skeptics on X questioned the ceremony’s scale, with one user noting, “It’s a dog, not a state funeral.” But Hamilton’s supporters countered fiercely: “Roscoe was Lewis’ rock through racism, pressure, and pain,” one tweeted. Angela Cullen, who called Roscoe’s passing like “losing a child,” will attend the burial, bringing Roscoe’s favorite vegan treat as a final offering. The decision also stirred cultural reflection, echoing Liverpool’s tribute to Diogo Jota’s legacy or Bruno Fernandes’ House of Hope. “Lewis is showing vulnerability isn’t weakness,” tweeted Sky F1’s Natalie Pinkham. “It’s strength.”
The burial plan carries personal weight. Hamilton, who credits Roscoe with teaching him “love outlasts trophies,” plans to scatter soil from Monaco—where Roscoe lived his final years—over the site, blending his two homes. Anthony Hamilton, speaking to BBC Sport, said, “Lewis carried Roscoe through every storm. This is his way of giving back.” The ceremony will include a reading of fan letters, some from kids who met Roscoe at Mission 44 events, one writing, “Roscoe made me believe I could be brave.”
As Hamilton prepares for Suzuka, where he’s tipped for a podium, Roscoe’s absence looms. The paddock, once brightened by his waddling gait, feels quieter. Yet, his legacy endures: the Roscoe’s Run fund has saved 200 shelter dogs, and Stevenage’s memorial will inspire generations. Hamilton’s tears, shed for a bulldog who stood by him through 105 wins, speak to a universal truth: love transcends species. In England’s green fields, where a boy and his dog once dreamed, Roscoe will rest, forever 44, forever loved.
