Meet the FAMOUS F1 Cat at the Azerbaijan GP!

Introduction — A Paddock Surprise from Kym Illman

I spent the day wandering the Baku paddock and what I didn’t expect to become the headline for many people was a small, fearless kitten that treated the paddock like its own personal racetrack. This piece pulls together everything I saw and heard on the day — from that cheeky feline and how the teams reacted, to the human stories in between: drivers, trainers, artists, birthday cakes and a flag so big it’s hard to believe.

The Star of the Paddock: The Azerbaijan F1 Cat

The cat stole the show. It was removed from the paddock multiple times — placed under fences, escorted out of hospitality areas — and it kept coming back. Within minutes it would reappear, wandering among teams, cameramen and even spending a long spell around the Mercedes garage. It was striking how comfortable it was with people: playful, friendly and utterly unconcerned by the bustle of F1 life.

People in the paddock fell in love immediately. A few crew members and photographers treated it like royalty and even joked about giving it a media pass. The big hope — and trust me I tried — was to get the classic picture of the kitten on a car. It never quite made it inside the garages; whenever it got close the teams would gently shoosh it away for safety reasons. Given how easy it is for a cat to access the circuit, that caution is well founded. Track sessions can be dangerous for animals, and while the cat seemed confident, I kept thinking about the risk of it wandering out onto the track.

After asking my followers to suggest names, the paddock consensus landed on one particularly fitting choice: Ferrari. Whether that was a cheeky nod or a genuine favourite, it summed up how the whole place embraced the new four-legged visitor.

Behind-the-Scenes at Baku: Hotels, Hospitality & the New Bridge

There are really only two hotels drivers use at this event: the Hilton and the Absheron Marriott. The new bridge linking the Marriott to the paddock is an impressive addition — glass-fronted, it offers views down to the track and will be a novelty when the race weekend crowds arrive. At the time I was there the bridge and parts of the Marriott were still being completed, with ladders and finishing touches visible. It’s a reminder that even big events sometimes run up against tight schedules.

That unfinished feeling extended to the paddock in the morning: containers that usually would have been gone were still around, there was rubbish and an overall sense of last-minute setup. Some old-timers remarked this wouldn’t have happened “in Bernie’s day” — a comment about how paddock logistics have evolved — but by late afternoon things had been tidied up and the venue looked ready for the next steps.

Drivers, Trainers & Paddock Characters

There’s always a human story in the paddock. George Russell was absent for the day; I spoke with his trainer who suggested he was resting in South Africa, but social media indicated he was on a flight with Valteri Bottas. The details weren’t fully disclosed, but the team expected him back for FP1. If he didn’t make it, Bottas was on standby to step in.

Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri showed up in low-key casual gear and later did a behind-the-scenes shoot at the hospitality suites — something you might already have seen online. Charles Leclerc on the other hand was delightfully approachable: fans waiting outside the Hilton were treated to selfies and good humour. Lewis Hamilton presented a different picture; he worked hard to avoid the waiting media and relied on extra security measures to get him through the paddock without being photographed.

Trainers and backroom staff were also in the spotlight. Lewis’s trainer, Angela Cullen, returned after missing two races; an interim trainer had filled in while she was away. Yuki Tsunoda’s trainer, John Noonan, was methodical about kit handling and carried a set of balaclavas each stamped with a unique gold code — a small but important detail ensuring careful inventory and traceability if items go missing or turn up on resale platforms.

Strange and Wonderful Paddock Moments

The paddock is always a mix of the mundane and the quirky. Players for the day included:

• Putting practice — short putts were surprisingly difficult under pressure; Oscar Piastri did well, while Nico Hülkenberg struggled with even a two-foot putt.
• Yuki Tsunoda rolling pastry — a quick demonstration for a local delight that showed how drivers enjoy engaging with local culture.
• Max Verstappen arriving unusually without a hat and sporting especially well-styled hair; I even quizzed his manager and family on hair products, but Max simply said it was something he buys in Monaco.

These little moments reveal the human side of F1: drivers aren’t just athletes and sponsors’ faces, they’re people who laugh, joke and get involved in small, unexpected ways.

Security, Media and Privacy: A Closer Look at Lewis Hamilton’s Approach

Lewis Hamilton’s approach on the day was to keep a very low profile. Rather than walking past the waiting media, he took a detour behind the hospitality suites and relied on his security team to block shots and create space. At one point I watched a taped-off buffer zone being created by his guard to give Lewis and his party more room. When he moved through the paddock he actively shielded his face, switching hands as needed. It made clear that even within the public-facing world of F1, privacy and carefully managed appearances are extremely important.

By contrast, Charles Leclerc was relaxed and friendly with fans and photographers, a reminder that drivers handle attention in very different ways. These differences affect how teams manage arrival procedures, public appearances and media access throughout a race weekend.

Art, Birthdays and Local Flavor

Small moments of creativity and celebration punctuate the paddock. Ollie, the artist in front of the Red Bull garage, produces race-by-race artwork that has become part of the event’s visual identity. He prefers to work in relative secrecy — one of my colleagues distracted him long enough for me to get shots — and his pieces are consistently striking and original.

On a sweeter note, the Haas team celebrated Esteban Ocon’s birthday with cakes sourced from Port Baku Bazaar — an example of how teams incorporate local vendors and culture into the paddock experience. These cakes were showstoppers and a reminder that amidst the engineering and competition, there’s room for simple, heartfelt gestures.

The Big Picture: A Flag That Can’t Be Missed

Baku has been busy putting a bold stamp on the city: a newly installed giant flag stands several kilometres from the circuit. The flag measures 36 x 72 meters and the pole is roughly 160 meters tall. Its fabric weighs around 500 kilograms — a half-tonne of national pride waving above the skyline. Expect to see it featured heavily in broadcasts and city imagery during the race weekend.

Conclusion — The Paddock’s Small Wonders

Walking the paddock that day was a reminder that Formula 1 is made up of thousands of small moments as much as a few very big ones. A stray cat that refuses to leave, a trainer counting balaclavas, a driver practicing putting, an artist quietly creating, a birthday cake from a local bazaar and a flag so large it demands attention — all these details combined to make the Azerbaijan weekend uniquely memorable.

For me, the feline visitor encapsulated everything that’s great about these events: spontaneity, community and a touch of mischief. It’s a good reminder to look for the small stories, because sometimes they become the ones people remember most.

FAQ

Was the cat allowed in the paddock?

Teams were gently asking the cat to leave garages and sensitive areas for safety reasons, but it repeatedly returned to the paddock. Staff intervened to protect both the cat and the operations when needed.

What name did people choose for the cat?

The most popular suggestion among the paddock and online followers settled on “Ferrari” as a playful nod to F1 culture and the cat’s high-profile presence.

Why was George Russell not present?

He was absent for the day and reportedly resting. Conversations with his trainer suggested he would return for FP1; if not, standby options were available from the team.

Is it common to see animals at F1 tracks?

Animals have appeared at circuits before — it’s not unheard of. Most circuits and teams have established processes to keep animals away from high-risk areas, and everyone takes animal safety seriously when incidents occur.

Will the new bridge change how fans or media interact with the paddock?

The new glass bridge linking the Marriott to the paddock introduces fresh viewing opportunities and will likely become a distinctive place to watch cars pass below. It should improve spectator experience but also requires careful management to ensure access rules are respected.

Where did the birthday cake for Esteban Ocon come from?

The cakes were sourced from Port Baku Bazaar, a local store with beautiful pastry and presentation — a nice way to weave local culture into the paddock festivities.

Why are balaclavas tracked with individual codes?

Balaclavas are part of driver safety kit. By marking them with individual codes, teams can track usage, identify missing items and prevent theft or resale of specialized equipment.

That covers the highlights and little moments from my day in the Baku paddock. If you’ve got a favourite paddock memory or another name idea for the cat, I’d love to hear it — the paddock is full of stories waiting to be shared.