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Kidnap attempt on Jenson Button in Brazil


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An attempt to kidnap Formula One World Champion Jenson Button has been foiled today in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

 

Reports show that while he was chauffeured from the Interlagos racing track, after the qualifying session, his armoured Mercedes was approached by at least six men with hostile intentions while stuck in traffic. Some were apparently armed.

 

“The police driver of Jenson’s vehicle reacted swiftly and, using avoidance techniques, rapidly forced his way through the traffic, taking Jenson and the other occupants of the car immediately away from any danger and back to their hotel,” McLaren said.

 

Button’s Manager Richard Goddard and trainer Mike Collier were also in the car.

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The report I read on Yahoo said both Hamilton & Button had been provided with armoured cars with police (or former police) drivers, so it makes me wonder if they had intel on a threat. Didn't say if any of the other teams had took the same precaution.

 

Button thinks not; he believes it was a random target of what looked like a vehicle carrying someone important.

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Other reports make it sound like attempted car-jackings are a fact of life in sao paulo for F1 personnel, and while it's never happened to a driver before, the teams and F1 management may have well decided it's better safe than sorry with their drivers and provide the armoured vehicles and undercover police drivers to ensure their safety. By all accounts some sauber team members weren't as lucky and didn't have the protection and were "successfully" stopped by the carjackers.

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Other reports make it sound like attempted car-jackings are a fact of life in sao paulo for F1 personnel, and while it's never happened to a driver before, the teams and F1 management may have well decided it's better safe than sorry with their drivers and provide the armoured vehicles and undercover police drivers to ensure their safety. By all accounts some sauber team members weren't as lucky and didn't have the protection and were "successfully" stopped by the carjackers.

 

Was gonna say the same, Brazil is a haven for this sort of thing, especially car jackings.

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Spent some time in Sao Paulo and worked bang next to Interlagos track,used to drive to and back into Sao Paulo every day without a problem though it was a bit scarey,traffic always gridlocked and the type of cars the drivers are chaufered back in probally stand out a mile,there's a lot of poverty in this city and the robbers saw what they thought would be an easy target.

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