Brazil F1 marred by violence and crime

Monday, 8 November 2010 03:55 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - A group of Sauber engineers were robbed at gunpoint shortly after Formula One world champion Jenson Button escaped unhurt from a similar attack at the Brazilian Grand Prix, the team said on Sunday.

“They left the track, three engineers together in a van, at around 8 p.m. (on Saturday),” a spokesman said.

“They had to stop at the red light and then all of a sudden five people were around the car, one with a machine gun, and they opened the door and took two rucksacks and disappeared. So nobody was injured.”

McLaren’s Button was the victim of an attempted armed robbery about an hour earlier but his police driver smashed his way through traffic to escape when the gunmen were seen approaching.