F1

Jenson Button was once caught in machine-gun ambush at Brazilian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell completed a Mercedes and British one-two last year at Interlagos, but didn't have such a smooth ride in 2017.

Not only did the seven-time world champion not end up on a podium, but he also saw a member of his Mercedes team held at gunpoint, stating, "this happens every single year!"

Hamilton's former teammate Jenson Button is perhaps who he was referring to, as, five years before this incident, Button was also caught out by notorious carjackers in Brazil.

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The McLaren driver returned to this track as the reigning world champion, and was on his way back to his luxury hotel from qualifying when six men trained their weapons on his bulletproof Mercedes. Luckily, his driver was an armed Brazilian policeman.

Button said: "My driver bounced off about five cars. We were driving over the top of them.

"We were going back from the track and were outside a shanty town and moving slowly on a busy road. The next thing I saw was a man with a gun. Our guy angled the car and floored it.

"That's when we saw them, all of them brandishing machine guns. My driver was a legend. It was very scary. I don't know whether they knew who it was they were ambushing."

At the time, McLaren alongside plenty of other teams, were told not to wear any of their team's uniforms around the city of Sao Paulo out of the fear that they would be targeted.

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Button also often drove himself to and from races, but his team insisted that he have an armed driver, who was trained in avoidance techniques. Hamilton, then with McLaren, was also provided with the same treatment.

"I said, 'Isn't that a gun?' and as soon as I said that, the driver angled the car. I am glad I didn't have my girlfriend Jessica with me – she would have been terrified."

Jessica Michibata is the girlfriend in question, and she was dubbed to have had a lucky escape, having been away working. The underwear model wedded Button in 2014 but split just a year later.

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Michibata was arrested in March of this year, and Button was renowned for putting her on a 'sex-ban' before races.

Driving for Brawn GP, Button won the sole world title of his 17-year career in 2009, finishing the season 11 points clear of nearest challenger Sebastian Vettel. In a bid to improve his chances of securing the Drivers' Championship, Button banned himself from speaking with his then girlfriend.

With F1 returning to Brazil this weekend, lets hope drivers manage to stay out of trouble.

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