Lewis Hamilton keeps vigil for Roscoe as Ferrari reshuffle Mugello plans amid brutal weather
Lewis Hamilton’s weekend in Baku has been dominated by a fight that’s got nothing to do with lap time. The Ferrari driver revealed on Friday that his beloved English bulldog, Roscoe, is in a coma after suffering complications from pneumonia, his heart having briefly stopped during treatment. An attempt to wake the 12-year-old is expected today.
Hamilton had urged fans on Wednesday to send “thoughts and prayers,” and the paddock—as ever when Roscoe’s name comes up—has rallied. Nicolas Hamilton, who’s fresh from his own scare after escaping a dramatic fire at the BTCC’s penultimate round at Silverstone, added a simple message on Saturday: “Sending you nothing but love Roscoe buddy.” No frills, just a line that landed with the weight you’d expect from a brother who knows what a close call feels like.
The human cost has been felt in Ferrari’s schedule too. Hamilton pulled out of the Scuderia’s fashion show in Milan and withdrew from a Pirelli tyre test at Mugello, choosing to remain with Roscoe. The test was slated to use an SF-25 mule car—essentially a 2025 chassis tuned to mimic 2026 performance levels—to help Pirelli finalise its harder compound range for next year’s regulations.
Ferrari moved quickly. Reserve driver Guanyu Zhou stepped in alongside Charles Leclerc on Friday as the team tried to salvage the programme. It never really caught fire: heavy rain marred the day, limiting Leclerc to just 25 laps on intermediates before handing over. Zhou logged a mix of laps on inters and full wets until a brief dry patch finally allowed a handful of slick runs. For Pirelli, it was more washout than breakthrough. Motorsport boss Mario Isola was left frustrated; this was supposed to be a key data day for the 2026 tyres, not a lesson in Tuscan weather patterns.
For Ferrari, the missed miles sting a bit—Hamilton’s feedback on a transitional mule would’ve been useful—but the conditions meant the session was compromised regardless. Leclerc handled the early running with typical diligence, Zhou did what he could, and the team will push the work to the next window. That’s the practical reality. The emotional one is simpler: Hamilton’s attention is where it should be.
Roscoe’s been a fixture in Hamilton’s story for years, a paddock celebrity who’s padded through hospitality and photo ops with the swagger of a world champion. The seven-time title winner’s bond with him is no part-time Instagram accessory; it’s family. This episode has reminded people of that, and it’s why messages have come from across the garage divide.
Nicolas Hamilton’s note struck the right chord, particularly after his own chaotic week. The 33-year-old’s BTCC season is in doubt after the Silverstone fire, yet he still found the space to send that quiet, public nudge of support to his brother’s best mate.
On track, the show rolls on in Azerbaijan. Ferrari will keep their focus trained on points and progress, but everyone knows the red car with the No. 44 isn’t carrying a normal load this weekend. When one of the sport’s biggest names says he “needs to be with Roscoe right now,” you don’t second-guess it. You just hope Saturday’s attempt to wake him brings the outcome Hamilton—and a good chunk of the fanbase—has been desperate to hear.
