FILE PHOTO: Formula One F1 - British Grand Prix - Silverstone Circuit, Silverstone, Britain - July 15, 2021 Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton arrives with his dog Roscoe ahead of the British Grand Prix REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge/File Photo
(Reuters) -Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton has pulled out of a Formula One tyre test with Pirelli to be with his ailing bulldog Roscoe, who is in a coma.
Ferrari confirmed the seven-times Formula One world champion was not taking part in the test on Friday at Italy's Mugello track, with Chinese reserve Zhou Guanyu taking the Briton's place.
Hamilton also provided an update on Roscoe's health on Instagram.
"Roscoe caught pneumonia again and was struggling to breathe," he wrote. "He was admitted to hospital and sedated to calm him while they did checks on him and during the process his heart stopped.
"They managed to get a heartbeat back and now he's in a coma. We don't know whether he will wake from this. Tomorrow we'll try to wake him up. I'm by his side and want to thank you all for your prayers and support."
The 12-year-old pet, a vegan like his owner, accompanied Hamilton through his title seasons with Mercedes -- attending races with his own paddock pass and travelling by private jet -- and has 1.3 million followers of his own on Instagram.
Hamilton spoke of his anxiety last May about his dog's health and how long he might have left.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Ken Ferris)
