World champion Jenson Button escaped an attempted armed mugging as he and a party of friends left the Interlagos circuit in Sao Paulo on Saturday night.
Button, his father John, manager Richard Goddard and physio Mile Collier were approached while travelling by car from the track, where Button had earlier qualified 11th for the Brazilian Grand Prix. None of the party was hurt.
McLaren had provided both Button and team mate Lewis Hamilton with reinforced armoured vehicles driven by armed police drivers, who had been trained in avoidance techniques.
The driver of Button’s vehicle reacted swiftly and rapidly forced his way through the traffic, taking them quickly away from danger and back to the Hilton Hotel.
The Sao Paulo authorities also acted quickly and promised to provide additional security to transfer all of the topline drivers and team personnel to the track for Sunday's race.
formula1.com
