Adorable footage shows a pet cat appearing to drive a Formula 1 race car in Japan.

The three-year-old moggy was positioned in front of the TV showing an amateur driver whizzing round the Fuji Speedway circuit in a red Ferrari.

The hilarious result showed the feline, named Kotetsu, looking around curiously with the scenery speeding past him.

Such was the angle that he appeared to be in pole position, calmly directing the race car from the cockpit.

Kotetsu's owner recorded the amusing scene at their home in Toyo-cho in the eastern part of Kochi Prefecture on July 9.

He said: "It is just funny because some people think that my cat is actually driving. I am sure my cat he likes to go inside and drive the kart."

The actual driver of the Formula 1 car, Steve, is an amateur racer who paid to use the Ferrari on the race track and recorded the experience from the vehicle. He is a friend of the cat's owner and helped to play the video recording on TV for him.