The greatest superheroes are those we can identify with. We spend our money and free time to see them in action, achieving what we thought was impossible. However, we love them even more when they show their human side, feeling pain, crying, and loving the same things as us, demonstrating that, regardless of their achievements, they are flesh and blood, like everyone else.
That has always been Lewis Hamilton’s true superpower.
Considered the best Formula 1 driver, rewriting records in each race, and with an estimated fortune of $450 million, Hamilton walks the red carpet in futuristic outfits, has dated music stars and supermodels, and co-produced a blockbuster film with Brad Pitt.
Recently, Hamilton shared a touching image on social media: the paw of his faithful companion Roscoe. The 12-year-old bulldog had passed away after a battle with pneumonia.
I had to make the most difficult decision of my life and say goodbye to Roscoe. It’s one of the most painful experiences and I feel a deep connection with everyone who has gone through the loss of a beloved pet.
Lewis Hamilton
For those who haven’t lived this experience, it might sound exaggerated. But those who have faced that heartbreaking moment know that Hamilton showed himself to be close and vulnerable.
Hamilton’s Instagram post, where he shared his pain with his 41 million followers, demonstrates his authenticity.
Since I started covering motorsports 30 years ago, I have witnessed Hamilton’s evolution. I first interviewed him in 2007, at 22 years old, already a race winner and considered the future of F1. I remember he wanted to talk about his beginnings in F1 video games and how he had to sell his PlayStation to buy a helmet.Roscoe, el bulldog inglés de Lewis Hamilton, pasó 12 años viajando por el mundo junto al siete veces campeón de F1.
Joe Portlock/Getty ImagesIn the following years, our conversations have been sporadic. Although I don’t pretend to know him well, the way he expresses himself in interviews creates a feeling of closeness. I wonder if he is aware of his fame, but that very quality makes him even more admirable and effective.
Hamilton has demonstrated his commitment to social justice by sharing his own experiences. He has spoken about the bullying he suffered at school because of his skin color and the difference in skin color from his white mother and his father born in Granada. His struggle intensified as he rose in the world of motorsport, including an incident in 2008, when fans at the Spanish Grand Prix showed up with their faces painted black and wigs, without F1 taking action.
He has exposed his life, from racism to his relationship with his father (now reconciled) and the loss of his dogs. Coco passed away in June 2020. It was then that we met Roscoe, who used to appear in Hamilton’s interviews from his homes and hotel rooms on the circuits.
Roscoe was adopted in 2013, the same year Hamilton joined Mercedes. Together, they celebrated six world titles and 84 victories. His Instagram account accumulated 1.4 million followers, and he even had a credit in the F1 movie.
Just as Hamilton had a dream life in motorsports, Roscoe experienced an extraordinary life. That’s why we love him, because he was able to live the dream that our dogs never had.
That’s why we appreciate that our motorsport heroes have companions who give them unconditional love, whether with a wagging tail or a wet nose. And when they have to say goodbye, we appreciate that those four-legged friends keep our heroes grounded.
