A stray cat has become the viral mascot of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix

Paddock atmosphere

Photo by: Kym Illman / Getty Images

Stray cats have taken the paddock of the Azerbaijan Grand Prix by storm as they have become the unexpected stars of the race weekend. With video clips and photos of these cats drawing huge amounts of focus across social media platforms, fans, drivers and teams have all gone mad for the animals.

Footage posted across social media has shown cats wandering across the paddock, collecting tens of thousands of likes and comments as the cats become the event’s most unlikely celebrities.

While one cat has received significant coverage, there are a number of cats around the paddock absorbing the love from fans. Circuit staff attempted to remove the famous animal from the area for safety reasons twice, but each time it returned to mingle with the championship’s elite. As you’d expect, the puns have been brilliant. Or purr-fect, if you’re so inclined.

The frenzy reached Williams driver Alex Albon’s mum, who posted a plea on Instagram for her son to bring the cat home to her and her daughters.

“Hi. If you go and find Alex at @williamsracing, you can ask if he can give you a lift. Plz tell him that Mummy & the big sisters say you can come and live with us at home,” she posted on the Instagram account, @albon_pets.

While there is yet to be any racing on track today, during the 2023 sprint race at Baku, the safety car had to brake heavily and swerve to avoid a cat running across the track. Charles Leclerc radioed his garage that there was “a cat in the middle of the road.” Fortunately for lovers of these furry Formula 1 fans, it wasn’t hurt.

The Baku track is a temporary street circuit that threads its way through the tight roads of the Caspian waterfront. With the track being in the centre of the capital, it’s no surprise that the paddock is rich with strays.

Now, the hunt is on for the perfect name for this lovely little animal. My personal favourite so far is Sebastian Vet-tail. But I’ll let you make up your mind in the comments below.