Mercedes has confirmed that its team bus was robbed at gunpoint as they were leaving the Interlagos Circuit on Friday evening. Valuables were stolen, however luckily nobody was hurt in the incident.
Staff from the FIA also escaped similar robberies while there are reports that other teams had incidents with muggers after the first day of running from Sao Paulo. It is not the first time that F1 personnel have been robbed in Brazil during a race weekend.
In 2010, Jenson Button's armoured car was approached by armed gunmen as he left the track, but his driver managed to flee the scene quickly. In the same year, members of the Sauber team were robbed, with valuables being stolen. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton has called for action over the recurring incidents.
Some of my team were held up at gun point 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.
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) ___Escaped_link_6767005f17c32___
This happens every single year here. F1 and the teams need to do more, there’s no excuse!
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) November 11, 2017
F1 should say to organisers and police that if this continues they'll pull the race
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Harryw
Posts: 107
F1 should say to organisers and police that if this continues they'll pull the race