F1 and Paws: unexpected guests of the Circus

When moving from oneF1 Grand Prix to another, from city to city and track to track, you never really know what kind of weekend lies ahead. But on certain occasions, it becomes clear that competition isn’t everything — especially when a high-stakes world like F1 comes to a halt in front of cuddly kittens, monitor lizards spotted on track, groundhogs or clumsy dogs. So it’s not just a sport powered by horsepower, but also one made memorable by amusing and lighthearted moments. The latest example? The Azerbaijan GP, where a paddock kitten quickly became the star and was affectionately nicknamed Matcha. Through this fun guide, let’s explore the most curious — and cuddly — encounters in this sport.

Verstappen and Godzilla – Singapore F1 GP (2016/2023)

Not exactly the ideal encounter — that’s what several drivers experienced during the Singapore Grand Prix practice sessions in both 2016 and again in 2023. Most notably Max Verstappen, who radioed his team on both occasions with the same surreal alert: “There’s a giant lizard on the track. Maybe Godzilla? Ha ha!”

Seven years later, the scene repeated itself, and this time the Red Bull pit wall played along with a witty comeback: “Well, maybe Godzilla had kids, if the one you saw was smaller!”

Just another day in the wild world of F1.

Formulinocat – Imola Track

Formulino cat was a beloved feline cared for by the Imola circuit staff, becoming a true mascot of the F1 paddock every time the championship arrived in Italy. Loved by everyone and pampered by the entire Enzo and Dino Ferrari circuit team, the affection doubled when the drivers joined in — especially Sebastian Vettel, who showed special fondness for the cat on multiple occasions.

Formulino cat became such a star that even Formula 1 created a custom VIP all-access pass for the four-legged friend. Sadly, in 2023, the aging feline passed away. But the memory of Formulino still lingers throughout the paddock, a symbol of warmth in a world of speed.

The little Canadian Groundhogs (Montreal GP, always)

The Canadian Grand Prix is always swarmed by enthusiastic fans — and the local groundhogs. In fact, one could argue that we are the ones invading their territory. The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Montréal is a semi-permanent street circuit located in Parc Jean-Drapeau on Notre-Dame Island, built for the 1976 Olympics in the St. Lawrence River estuary.

These fluffy residents often find their underground burrows shaken by the roar of F1 engines several times a year. Most encounters are harmless and distant, but occasionally, bad luck strikes groundhogs and drivers are unable to avoid them — just ask Lewis Hamilton, who sadly had such an incident in 2025.

Who let the dogs out, who who who! (Bahrain 2020)

Typical hot free practice sessions at the Bahrain circuit, but this time the high-speed action on track wasn’t just coming from the cars. A small dog — likely a stray — made an unexpected appearance, forcing the marshals to wave the red flag and temporarily halt the session.

Adding humor to the situation, Sebastian Vettel chimed in over team radio with a playful reference to the early 2000s hit song by Baha Men: “Who let the dogs out?” A light-hearted moment that added some unexpected entertainment to an otherwise routine practice day.

Leo Leclerc and Roscoe Hamilton

Whenever they show up at a Grand Prix, their pictures quickly go viral worldwide. Roscoe, Lewis Hamilton’s loyal and veteran dog, is the inseparable companion of the seven-time world champion. Leo, on the other hand, is the dog Charles Leclerc and his partner have had for a few years. Their first meeting took place at last year’s British GP in Silverstone, where the two dogs shared moments of playfulness and carefree fun together.

Matcha (Azerbaijan GP F1 2025)

Guest star of the F1 Azerbaijan Gp weekend was a stray cat, later nicknamed Matcha by drivers and teams. Initially removed by track staff for “safety” reasons, the fearless little intruder decided the paddock wasn’t such a bad place after all—and made his return. Winning over everyone’s hearts, Matcha was welcomed into various team hospitality areas for the entire weekend, quickly becoming a true superstar chased by cameras. In these photos, he’s seen in the Mercedes motorhome posing with Kimi Antonelli’s helmet at the 2025 Azerbaijan Gp

F1 and animals is the best duo ever, do you agree?