Lewis Hamilton says he has been overwhelmed by the support he has received following the death of his dog, Roscoe.
The seven-time world champion announced on Sunday that he had to put his 12-year-old bulldog to sleep, due to complications from pneumonia. Roscoe made a number of paddock visits since Hamilton adopted him alongside another bulldog, Coco, back in 2013, and had a significant online following of 1.5 million of his own.
“Yeah, [I’ve had] lots of messages,” Hamilton said. “Quite overwhelming to be honest to see just how many people Roscoe touched around the world and really heartwarming to receive.
“I’ve not been able to reply to everybody but it was the most important thing in my life so it was a very difficult experience. I know so many people in the world have gone through it and know what it’s like to have a pet that gives you such amazing love and it’s an amazing experience. But I’m really just looking forward to now just getting back in the car and doing what I love doing here.”
Hamilton arrives at the Singapore Grand Prix seeking his first podium with Ferrari, and while keen to thank supporters for the messages he’s had, he stopped short of putting any added emphasis on this weekend’s result.
“I think there’s a lot of people that deserve a good result from my side and this team. The tifosi and the people that have been following me and all the people that have been checking in and been so supportive over this past whole year, but also particularly this past week.
“I think it’s in moments like that where you really see people show up for you and that’s been, as I said, really overwhelming to see and really well welcomed.”
After finishing a disappointing eighth in Baku having started the weekend so strongly, Hamilton says he is encouraged by the progress Ferrari has been making, despite recent results.
“I definitely feel optimistic for this weekend,” he said. “There’s been lots of learnings from the last couple of races and definitely making progress and feeling better in the car. Execution wasn’t perfect in the last race but there’s lots of learnings from that and I’m hoping this weekend we can capitalize on that and continue to move forward.
“Every weekend it’s difficult to say because this will be the first time driving a Ferrari around Singapore The car felt really great starting the last grand prix and we just didn’t carry that through the weekend. But as I said, there’s been learnings as to why that was and so I think we’ll have a better approach this weekend.
“Obviously the last week I’ve not had as much time as I’d like with the team but I know they’ve been working very hard back at the factory. And we’ve caught up over the last couple of days, so I’m feeling optimistic of getting in.
“I have no clue how quick the others are going to be. They’re obviously going to be fast, the Red Bull’s very quick and as is the McLarens and Mercedes also. So we’ve got a lot of work to do. I think this weekend qualifying is key, so that will be the focus.”