Leclerc sparks concerns during Sprint as French accent strikes again

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Charles Leclerc put his Ferrari team and his fans on red alert during Saturday's Sprint event in Baku when he radioed in to signal "a cut", but the Monegasque later clarified what he actually meant.

Leclerc was leading the race under the Safety Car when he alluded to what his team believed may have been "a cut" to his power unit, although his crews could see no data supporting such an issue.

Read also: Leclerc admits he had to settle for second after Perez pass

Asked about his comment after the race, Leclerc revealed that he was actually talking about "a cat" running across the track.

"I said a cat, which is different!" explained Leclerc, who finished the short distance event second behind Red Bull's Sergio Perez.

"There was a cat in the middle of the road and the Safety Car had to stop, but I think I was probably the only one who saw that?

"In the exit of Turn 1, there was a cat and the Safety Car braked. It wasn't too bad, but I just felt like I was going to say!"

Sitting alongside Leclerc in the post-race press conference, Perez had a suggestion for Verstappen, his feline-loving teammate: "Maybe Max should adopt the cat!"

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.