Roscoe, the companion bulldog to 7-time Formula 1 world champion, Lewis Hamilton, is quite a famous personality, just like his dad. The heartfelt bond between the dog and the Brit has captured the imagination of F1 fans all around the world. The duo has become practically inseparable with Roscoe capturing the attention of the F1 paddock with his constant presence alongside Hamilton for many seasons now. However, things like Roscoe’s rescue story and the reason behind the name have remained a mystery. That is, it was until now.

Hamilton’s love for animals, especially for dogs recently led him to meet with special dogs who have had a difficult past. As Lewis spent time with the dogs getting to know them and sharing their stories with us through a clip on Mercedes F1 Team’s official YouTube page, he also answered some of the fans’ questions. And that’s how he revealed the story behind Roscoe’s rescue.

Roscoe was a case of love at first sight for Lewis Hamilton

Roscoe’s Instagram account (@roscoelovescoco) carrying the name of Hamilton’s late female bulldog companion Coco is close to having 1 million followers. However, when Lewis first found him, he was just another shelter dog amongst thousands of other bulldogs. But there was something about Roscoe that clicked inside Hamilton instantly.

One of the fan questions for Hamilton was why he named his bulldog Roscoe. In response, Lewis Hamilton said, “I don’t know, I just thought it was a cool, fun name. I remember being online looking online for rescues. At some page, I found that had like a thousand bulldogs and I just went through all of them and I came across this one picture and I was like ‘That’s him!’ and that was like one of the best decisions I ever took in my life.“

Lewis Hamilton not only loves dogs but he values the life of all animals. He has also long been an active voice in the animal advocacy movement. Inspired by a vegan friend he met in New York in 2017, the 7-time world champion has since enjoyed a vegan lifestyle and even Roscoe is vegan. This just goes to show his commitment to his vegan and cruelty-free lifestyle. He chose this path after understanding the impact of animal agriculture on the environment.

READ MORE: “I Hope She’s in a Better Place” – Lewis Hamilton Pays Touching Tribute to his Pet Dog Coco

While Lewis Hamilton has played his part in the welfare of animals, he has also been involved in a controversy in recent times.

Why did PETA slam Hamilton in 2022 despite having praised his efforts before

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has recognized Hamilton’s efforts for animal advocacy and praised the Brit many times in the past. However, in 2022 Hamilton was slammed by PETA for failing to speak up on the dog cruelty associated with F1’s parent company Liberty Media.

The point of contention was Liberty Media’s sponsorship of the Iditarod, a grueling 1,000-mile dog-sled race, and Lewis Hamilton’s silence concerning the incident where more than 150 dogs died. PETA President Ingrid Newkirk directly addressed Hamilton stating, “We know you do care about dogs, so please don’t continue to stand idly by as animals continue to suffer or your silence will be taken as complicity.”

The controversy continued into 2023, as a PETA activist confronted Hamilton during the Forbes Iconoclast Summit. The activist urged Hamilton to use his influence to speak out against the race. “I beg you, please. We are begging you, please. We know that you don’t want dogs to suffer. The Iditarod does that. The Iditarod has a long-standing history, long and tragic history.”

Watch This Story | Unknown Facts About Lewis Hamilton’s Beloved Dog Roscoe

What are your thoughts on PETA’s slamming of Lewis Hamilton? Do you think he’ll speak up against the Iditarod race sponsored by Liberty Media? Share your insights down below in the comments.