Members of Lewis Hamilton’s world-championship winning Mercedes team were robbed at gunpoint as they left the Interlagos circuit on Friday night.
A minibus, transporting Mercedes staff back to their team hotel, was held up at 2200 local time. One of the team had a gun held to their head, Hamilton said.
‘One minibus was robbed at gunpoint,’ a Mercedes spokesperson said. ‘Valuables were stolen but everybody is safe and uninjured which is the main thing.’
Hamilton tweeted on Saturday morning: ‘Some of my team were held up at gunpoint last night leaving the circuit here in Brazil.
Gun shots fired, gun held at ones head. ‘This is so upsetting to hear. Please say a prayer for my guys who are here as professionals today even if shaken.’
Hamilton then added: ‘This happens every single year here. F1 and the teams need to do more, there’s no excuse!’
Sao Paulo’s Military Police today said that they had so far not received any report of the incident.
It isn’t the first time visitors to Sao Paulo’s F1 have been targetted by the city’s notorious armed gangs.
In 2010, Jenson Button escaped unharmed after an armed gang ambushed the car taking him back to his hotel from the Interlagos circuit. The Brazilian Grand Prix takes place this Sunday.
