Formula One world champion Jenson Button has escaped unharmed after being attacked by a group of armed men in the Brazilian city Sao Paulo.
He was being driven away from the Interlagos circuit to his hotel after the final qualifying session of the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Button was making the 40-minute journey back to his hotel from the Interlagos track at about 7pm on Saturday when he noticed six men, all brandishing machine guns, approach his car.
The world champion was travelling with his father, manager and physiotherapist in a reinforced armoured car driven by a police driver trained in avoidance techniques and armed himself.
Button said that the six men trained their weapons on the car and that as soon as he mentioned this to his driver he fled from the scene, forcing his way through the busy traffic.
McLaren have confirmed that additional security will be provided for Button and other senior members of the team to transfer them to and from the track on race day.
