In an unprecedented display of compassion that transcended the cutthroat world of Formula 1, the Ferrari team brought fans to tears during the Japanese Grand Prix weekend on October 5, 2025, by donning T-shirts honoring Roscoe, Lewis Hamilton’s beloved bulldog who passed away on September 22 after a battle with a heart condition. The entire Scuderia Ferrari squad—drivers, mechanics, strategists, and team principal Fred Vasseur—walked the Suzuka paddock in matching red shirts emblazoned with a silhouette of Roscoe’s iconic jowly face and the words “Forever 44.” This heartfelt gesture, unveiled just days after Hamilton’s emotional announcement to bury Roscoe in his native England, was not only a profound show of support for the seven-time champion but also a powerful reminder that empathy can unite even the fiercest rivals in the world of speed. The moment, captured in a viral photo that swept X with 12 million views, has redefined Ferrari’s legacy as a team with heart.
Roscoe, the 13-year-old bulldog who amassed 1.2 million Instagram followers, was a paddock legend, skateboarding through Monaco and snoozing by Hamilton’s helmet during his Mercedes and now Ferrari tenure. His death, marked by a final paw-nuzzle to Hamilton and caregiver Angela Cullen, sparked global tributes, from the FIA’s “Roscoe Clause” easing Hamilton’s non-racing duties to Max Verstappen canceling his 28th birthday bash to attend Roscoe’s burial. Ferrari, locked in a 2025 Constructors’ Championship battle trailing Red Bull by 38 points, had already honored Roscoe with a bulldog decal on Hamilton’s car and a paw-print helmet. But the T-shirt initiative, conceived by Charles Leclerc and executed with fan input, elevated the tribute to an emotional crescendo.
The gesture debuted on Thursday’s media day at Suzuka, where Hamilton, 40, was visibly moved as he arrived to find the Ferrari garage awash in Roscoe shirts. Leclerc, 27, led the team in presenting Hamilton with the first shirt, featuring Roscoe’s silhouette and a tiny checkered flag. “Roscoe was part of Ferrari—he welcomed us all with a wag,” Leclerc said, his voice cracking. “We wear these for Lewis, for family.” Hamilton, fighting tears, hugged Leclerc, whispering, “This means everything, mate.” The team wore the shirts all weekend—mechanics during pit practice, Vasseur in strategy meetings, even reserve driver Oliver Bearman during media duties. Fans, expecting F1’s usual intensity, were floored, with #FerrariForRoscoe trending at 5 million posts on X.
The T-shirts, designed with input from Hamilton’s Mission 44 foundation, were sold trackside, with proceeds funding animal shelters. By Sunday, 10,000 shirts sold, raising £250,000, matched by Ferrari for Roscoe’s Run, a shelter initiative. The design, featuring Roscoe’s grin under “Forever 44,” became a fan favorite, with Suzuka’s 80,000-strong crowd sporting them during a Lap 13 applause tribute. “Ferrari’s not just racing—they’re loving,” tweeted Sky F1’s Natalie Pinkham. Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, Hamilton’s former rival, wore a Roscoe pin on his cap, saying, “This is bigger than competition.” McLaren’s Lando Norris donated £50,000, posting, “Roscoe was F1’s MVP.”
The gesture’s roots lay in Ferrari’s response to Hamilton’s grief. After Roscoe’s passing, the team granted him partial leave in Singapore, a move that inspired the FIA’s rule amendment. Leclerc, who bonded with Roscoe over paddock fetch games, proposed the T-shirts after seeing Hamilton’s Instagram post: “Roscoe taught me love outlasts trophies.” The team collaborated with fans on X, who suggested including Roscoe’s vegan diet nod—a carrot icon—on the shirts. “It’s personal,” Vasseur told Autosport. “Lewis is our warrior, but he’s human. Roscoe was his heart.” The shirts, printed in Maranello, were a surprise even to Hamilton, who learned of them only when Leclerc handed him one.
Skeptics on X questioned the move’s optics. “Ferrari’s milking Roscoe for PR,” one user claimed, citing their championship push. Others argued it risked distracting Hamilton, who qualified P2 but trailed Verstappen in practice. Yet, the team’s unity shone: mechanics wore the shirts during a flawless 2.1-second pit stop, and Hamilton’s P3 finish—dedicated to Roscoe—narrowed Red Bull’s lead to 35 points. “These shirts fueled me,” Hamilton said post-race, clutching one to his chest. “Ferrari’s my family now, and they loved Roscoe too.”
The moment resonated beyond Suzuka. The T-shirts, now sold globally via Ferrari’s site, have raised £500,000, with Hamilton pledging to visit shelters in Roscoe’s name. A Stevenage mural, depicting Roscoe with Ferrari’s prancing horse, draws fans daily. Other teams joined in: Mercedes displayed a Roscoe banner at their garage, and McLaren’s Oscar Piastri, recently humbled by his own Roscoe-related misstep, wore a shirt in solidarity. “This is what F1 should be,” tweeted fan account F1 Insider. The gesture echoes 2025’s wave of empathy—Liverpool’s Jota tribute, Fernandes’ House of Hope—showing sports’ softer side.
For Hamilton, racing for his eighth title, the T-shirts were a lifeline. “Seeing my team wear Roscoe’s face? It’s like he’s still here,” he said, eyes misty. The burial in Stevenage, set for October 10, will see Ferrari staff attend, some in the shirts. As Suzuka’s cherry blossoms fell, Ferrari’s gesture proved that in F1’s world of speed, compassion can steal the podium. Roscoe’s legacy—stitched in red, worn with pride—unites rivals and fans, showing that love, not just horsepower, drives the heart of a champion.
