Jeremy Clarkson has admitted he’s “really sorry” for Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton after learning of the death of his beloved pet dog, Roscoe.

Mr Hamilton revealed the heartbreaking loss of his cherished bulldog, who passed away in his arms, on Sunday evening.

The 12-year-old canine had been battling pneumonia and spent four days receiving life support treatment before Mr Hamilton faced what he described as “the hardest decision of my life” to have his companion euthanised.

The British racing driver missed a tyre test over the weekend whilst Roscoe fought the illness that ultimately claimed his life.

Lewis Hamilton pictured with his dog Roscoe back in July | GETTY

In his touching tribute, Hamilton expressed profound gratitude for the years spent with his four-legged companion.

“I feel so grateful and honoured to have shared my life with such a beautiful soul, an angel and true friend,” the seven-time world champion wrote.

He reflected on the profound impact Roscoe had on his life, stating: “Bringing Roscoe into my life was the best decision I ever made, and I will forever cherish the memories we created together.”

The Ferrari driver acknowledged the difficulty of the experience, noting he had previously lost another bulldog, Coco, but had never before faced the decision to euthanise a pet.

Mr Hamilton shared a similar announcement over on X. “Lost my best friend last night. Thank you all for the love you’ve shown him over the years. Roscoe forever,” he penned to his 8.6 million followers.

Among those offering their condolences was Mr Clarkson, who replied with the message: “Really sorry to hear that. It’s hell.”

Mr Clarkson wasn’t alone in reaching out to the 40-year-old. The official Formula One account paid tribute to Roscoe as “a true star in his own right” who “brought smiles to the paddock and warmed the hearts of fans all over the world.”

Since Mr Hamilton brought Roscoe into his life in 2013, the English bulldog has become an integral part of the racing world.

The canine amassed an impressive 1.4 million followers on his dedicated Instagram account, where Mr Hamilton documented their adventures together.

Both Mr Hamilton and Roscoe followed a vegan diet, which the driver credited with helping to manage the bulldog’s health issues until his recent illness.

Meanwhile, over at Diddly Squat, Mr Clarkson has been dealing with some rather bittersweet news regarding his own dogs on his farm.

The former Top Gear host left fans in tears last month when he revealed he’d had to give away the majority of his fox-red Labrador, Arya’s, litter.

Jeremy Clarkson and Lisa Hogan had to say goodbye to their puppies last month

 | AMAZON“So happy the puppies are going to wonderful families. But God it’s sad to see them go,” Clarkson penned on Instagram alongside a video of him and partner Lisa Hogan handing the puppies away.

Ms Hogan offered a similarly emotional reaction to the decision. “Goodbye my puppies, goodbye my friends, we have loved you so much,” she wrote on the social media site. (sic)