Lewis Hamilton says he was overwhelmed by the support he received after the death of his dog Roscoe.
The seven-time world champion announced on Sunday that the 12-year-old bulldog must be put to sleep due to complications from pneumonia. Roscoe has visited many paddocks and had significant online followers of 1.5 million since Hamilton recruited him in 2013 along with another Bulldog, Coco.
“Yeah, I had a lot of messages,” Hamilton said. “To be honest, it’s so overwhelming to see the number of people Roscoe touched all over the world and see it really warms me.
“I couldn’t reply to everyone, but it was a very difficult experience because it was the most important thing in my life. I know that many people in the world have experienced it and have pets that will give you such amazing love.
Hamilton has arrived at the Singapore Grand Prix in search of his first podium with Ferrari and has stopped giving additional emphasis to the results this weekend while he wants to thank his supporters for the message he had.
“I think there are a lot of people who deserve good results from my side and this team. The people who have followed Tifosi and me, and all of the people who have checked in and worked with me all over the past year, especially in the past week.
“I think it’s such a moment when you see you really show up for you, and like I said, it was really overwhelming and really well-welcome.”
After finishing the disappointing eighth place in Baku, which started the weekend very strongly, Hamilton says he is encouraged by the progress Ferrari is making despite recent results.
“I definitely feel optimistic this weekend,” he said. “There’s been a lot of learning from the past few races, and I definitely made progress in the car and I feel better. The executions weren’t perfect in the last race, but then there’s a lot of learning. This weekend we hope to use it and continue to move forward.
“This is my first time driving a Ferrari around Singapore every weekend, so this car started its final Grand Prix and felt it was really great, so I didn’t carry it all the way through the weekend.
“Obviously last week I wasn’t as long as I had with the team, but I know they’ve worked so hard in the factory.
“I don’t know how fast the other people will be. They will obviously be faster. Red Bull is very fast, just like McLarens and Mercedes.