The United States Grand Prix is set to kick off on Sunday and Lewis Hamilton will be hoping to impress with his final few races in his debut year with Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Ferrari walks in the paddock during qualifying ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on October 4, 2025 in Singapore, Singapore.

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Lewis Hamilton will be looking to turn his grief into strength this weekend(Image: Kym Illman/Getty Images)

Lewis Hamilton will try to put an emotional few weeks behind him at the United States Grand Prix on Sunday.

The Formula One driver has been mourning the loss of beloved dog Roscoe, who sadly passed away in September after a serious health battle. The English bulldog had been placed into a coma during treatment for pneumonia and Hamilton was forced to say goodbye to his four-legged friend not long after.

The former Mercedes driver will look to lift his spirits with a strong performance for Ferrari as he aims to finish the season on a high note. The veteran driver has had a mediocre year with Scuderia, with his best finish being fourth place at the British GP in July.

Here, Wales Online have delved into Hamilton’s life in F1, including why he changed his name and how much he is worth as an active driver in the sport.

Shock name change

Hamilton revealed in 2022 that he had plans to pay tribute to his mum Carmen with a surprising name change. The F1 star was awarded a knighthood in 2021 for services to motorsport and attended the ceremony at Windsor Castle with his mum by his side.

One year later, the driver claimed he was in the process of including his mother’s maiden name, Larbalestier, as his middle name. Hamilton said: “None of you might know that my mum’s [sur]name is Larbalestier, and I’m just about to put that in my name.

Sir Lewis Hamilton with his mother Carmen Lockhart after he was made a Knight Bachelor by the Prince of Wales during a investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on December 15, 2021 in Windsor, England.

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Hamilton had plans to change his name in honour of his mother Carmen(Image: Andrew Matthews – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

“Because I don’t really fully understand the whole idea of why, when people get married, the woman loses her name. I really want her name to continue on with the Hamilton name.”

As of 2025, however, it is unclear whether Hamilton has successfully changed his name yet or not.

Colossal net worth

Hamilton was named Britain’s richest active sportsperson by the 2025 Sunday Times Rich List, with a net worth soaring to almost £400million. The seven-time world champion is the 324th richest person in the UK, with his move from Mercedes to Ferrari seeing his net worth jumping to a staggering £385m.

After his shock move to Scuderia, the driver reportedly earns £50m a year on his two-year deal, jumping above Max Verstappen’s record-breaking contract of £47m annually with Red Bull.

Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Scuderia Ferrari gives a thumbs up on the drivers parade prior to the F1 Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on October 05, 2025 in Singapore, Singapore.

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Lewis Hamilton is worth almost £400m(Image: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

With multiple fourth-placed finishes, Hamilton could be earning even more than his base salary with performance bonuses not included in the initial figure.

The 40-year-old will also boost his earnings with various endorsement deals and his own businesses which include a streetwear line and a part ownership share in NFL team, the Denver Broncos.

Hardest decision of Hamilton’s life

Hamilton admitted that turning off Roscoe’s life support was the “hardest decision” he has ever made. The Ferrari star could only watch on as the dog was placed into a coma during a battle with pneumonia and fought for four days on life support.

After Roscoe sadly passed away, Hamilton posted the heartbreaking news on his social media. He wrote: “After four days on life support, fighting with every bit of strength he had, I had to make the hardest decision of my life and say goodbye to Roscoe.

Lewis Hamilton of Great Britain and Scuderia Ferrari in the Paddock with his dog Roscoe during practice ahead of the F1 Grand Prix of Great Britain at Silverstone Circuit on July 04, 2025 in Northampton, England.

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Lewis Hamilton sadly lost his beloved dog Roscoe in September(Image: Sam Bagnall/Sutton Images)

“He never stopped fighting, right until the very end. I feel so grateful and honoured to have shared my life with such a beautiful soul, an angel and true friend. Bringing Roscoe into my life was the best decision I ever made, and I will forever cherish the memories we created together.

“Although I lost Coco, I have never been faced with putting a dog to sleep before, though I know my mum and many close friends have. It is one of the most painful experiences and I feel a deep connection to everyone who has gone through the loss of a beloved pet.

“Although it was so hard, having him was one of the most beautiful parts of life, to love so deeply and to be loved in return. Thank you all for the love and support you’ve shown Roscoe over the years. It has been so special to witness and feel.”