F1 world champion escaped terrifying armed attack after leaving Brazilian GP track

Formula 1 drivers are used to frightening ordeals on the track but danger can lurk far beyond the circuit. Back in 2010, reigning world champion Jenson Button experienced a harrowing brush with real-world peril in the chaotic streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos, the McLaren star narrowly escaped what could have been a kidnapping or robbery attempt by armed assailants.

The incident, which unfolded just hours after qualifying, highlighted the stark security risks faced by F1 personnel in one of the sport's most notorious host cities. Button was en route to his hotel in a bulletproof Mercedes B-Class when the attack nearly materialised. Accompanied by his father John, physiotherapist Mikey Collier and manager Richard Goddard, the group was caught in traffic - a common vulnerability in Sao Paulo's congested roads. What started as a routine drive quickly escalated into a life-threatening ordeal.

"We stopped at the traffic lights, three rows back," Button recalled. "Our driver, as always, stopped early, leaving space to the car in front. We looked to the right and saw a few guys gathering by the side of the road, just by the entrance to a building.

"They looked a bit suspect but we didn't think anything of it. Then Richard noticed that one of the guys had a baton hanging down from his arm and I noticed that one was playing with something in his trousers, and it was a gun."

The situation turned dire in an instant. As the group realised the threat, the assailants spotted their gaze and charged toward the vehicle. However, Button's quick-thinking driver reacted with split-second precision.

"He angled the car and floored it - it didn't look like there was enough space to get through. He went between six cars and rammed every single car just to get past. We got through in the end, but looking behind there were two guys with handguns - quite a simple looking handgun - and one guy with a machine gun."

The armored Mercedes proved its worth, absorbing the impacts as it bulldozed through the jam. "We were in a B-class Merc, which is not the biggest of cars, but it's bulletproof, so it's pretty heavy and it's good at getting through traffic like that," added Button, who attributed the close call to bad luck rather than a maliciously-calculated plan.

"We stopped right outside the entrance so I think we were more unlucky than anything else. I had this [McLaren team top] on but the windows are blacked out so you couldn't see anything.

"You hear about it happening over the years but you don't know how it feels until it happens to you. It's a pretty scary situation. You don't believe it's happening. It's quite strange."

The incident sparked widespread concern within the F1 paddock about safety in Brazil, a country plagued by high crime rates, especially around major events. Sao Paulo's Brazilian GP has long been synonymous with security challenges, with teams routinely employing armored vehicles, police escorts, and trained drivers.

"From what I hear, most of the drivers have got police escorts into the circuits as well as a bullet-proof car and a policeman as a driver," Button said. "It's not a very comfortable feeling.

"It's a horrible thing to happen. I feel fine now. There's a lot of attention because it's the first time it's been a driver that's been held up. Hopefully it will show the dangers that are down there and we'll take more care."

Despite lingering security concerns, the Brazilian GP remains a cornerstone of the F1 calendar. This year's race, which takes place on Sunday, sees Drivers' Championship leader Lando Norris start from pole position as he looks to edge closer to his maiden world title. However, his McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri and reigning champion Max Verstappen - trailing by nine and 39 points respectively - will be hot on his tail.