The Paddock Purrformer: How Stray Cat Stole the Show at Baku Grand Prix

In a sport defined by precision, speed, and high-stakes drama, it was a whiskered wanderer, not a world champion, who captured hearts at the 2025 Azerbaijan Grand Prix. Meet the “Paddock Cat,” the stray feline who turned the Baku circuit into her personal runway and became Formula 1’s most unexpected viral star.

From Track Intruder to Internet Icon

It all started with a few curious sightings: a sleek, streetwise cat weaving through the paddock, brushing past mechanics, and lounging near team garages. But what began as a quirky distraction quickly snowballed into a full-blown social media frenzy. Teams, drivers, and fans alike couldn’t resist documenting the cat’s antics, flooding Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) with memes, photoshoots, and affectionate tributes2.

The Catwalk Goes Viral

• Racing Bulls expressed their desire to adopt the paddock cat with very strong reasoning:

• Mercedes F1 page seemingly posted more cat pictures than photos of George Russel and Kimi Antonelli. They have even made a photoshoot for the cat with a special helmet that has a combined design of both pilots. The Passion Club named the cat Kitty Antonelli.

• Red Bull’s main team experienced some struggles in locating the cat at first, but they were successful in their pursuit, and the fans could even witness the interaction between the cat and Yuki Tsunoda, or rather, the abscence of it (maybe he did not want to disturb the animal).

• The official F1 account and other teams’ accounts also shared the pictures of the cat. It became sort of a quest for each team to have this cat posted on their page.

• Even Alex Albon’s mother joined the fun, posting a playful plea for her son to bring the cat home to her and his sisters.

A Familiar Furry Face?

This isn’t the first time a cat has made headlines in Baku. During the 2023 sprint race, a safety car had to swerve to avoid a feline on track, prompting Charles Leclerc to radio in about the surprise guest. But this year’s paddock cat wasn’t just passing through—she became part of the show.

Despite circuit staff’s attempts to relocate her for safety reasons, the cat kept returning, mingling with personnel and charming everyone in her path.

What’s Next for the Paddock Cat?

While her future remains uncertain, one thing’s clear: she’s already etched her paw print into F1 folklore. Whether she’s adopted by a team or continues her reign as Baku’s unofficial mascot, the paddock cat has proven that sometimes, the best stories aren’t scripted — they just stroll in.