Lewis Hamilton crew held up by Brazil gun bandits

FORMULA ONE champion Lewis Hamilton last night expressed his anger after his support team were ambushed by a gun-toting gang.

Shots were fired and one of the star’s backroom staff had a gun held to his head during the robbery after a final practice session ahead of today’s Brazilian Grand Prix.

Military police were last night hunting for the bandits, who surrounded a motorcade close to

Sao Paulo’s Interlagos circuit at

8pm on Friday night. The raiders held up the Mercedes team minibus and tried to rob a car belonging to the FIA, the sport’s governing body, but the driver managed to flee.

Hamilton, who secured his fourth F1 drivers’ championship two weeks ago, yesterday tweeted: “Some of my team were held up at gunpoint last night. Shots fired, gun held at one’s head. This is so upsetting to hear. This happens every year here. F1 and the teams need to do more. There’s no excuse.” Mercedes’ director of communications Robert Moran said: “Some men accosted them and stole their belongings. The important thing is nothing

worse

Shots were fired. A gun held at someone’s head. This is so upsetting to hear LEWIS HAMILTON

happened.” Matteo Bonciani, FIA communications director, was in the attacked car. He said: “Three men hit the windows with weapons. But the driver reacted with professionalism.”

In 2010, Jenson Button was targeted by gunmen as he left the same track.

Former F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone’s mother-in-law Aparecida Schunck, 67, was kidnapped in Sao Paulo in July last year. A £28million ransom was demanded but she was released unharmed.

Yesterday Hamilton crashed out of qualifying on his first lap and will start today’s race at the back of the grid.

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