Jenson Button, McLaren driver with his girl friend

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Button praises driver in gun escape

Formula One world champion Jenson Button hailed the swift actions of his police driver after being confronted by an armed gang in Sao Paulo.

Button, his father John, manager Richard Goddard and trainer Mike Collier escaped unharmed following Saturday night's frightening attack that occurred on their return to their hotel after the qualifying session for the Brazilian Grand Prix.

The quartet managed to flee the machine-gun wielding assailants as their police protector used the armoured Mercedes he was driving to barge his way through several vehicles.

"We were going back from the track and were outside a shanty town and moving slowly on a busy road," Button told the Mail on Sunday.

"I saw a dog come out, which was very cute. The next thing I saw was a man with a gun. I said 'isn't that a gun?' and as soon as I said that, the driver angled the car and floored it. That's when we saw six men, all of them brandishing machine guns.

"My driver was a legend. He bounced off about five cars. We were driving over the top of them. It was very scary.

"I don't know whether they knew who it was they were ambushing. But I am glad I didn't have my girlfriend Jessica (Michibata) with me. She would have been terrified."

Mr Goddard also praised the officer assigned to protect them, an action purposefully instigated by McLaren given the level of gun crime in Sao Paulo, one of South America's most violent cities. He said: "We were very lucky to have a police driver looking after us because he got us out of what could have been quite a frightening situation.

"The real positive thing to take out of it is that we are all fine and we're all able to look back on it and see it for what it was.

"Obviously from our perspective, luckily it wasn't a lot worse, and luckily the sharp actions of our police driver forcing his way through the traffic like he did was great."

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Jenson Button in attempted car-jacking in Sao Paulo

Jenson Button, the defending Formula One World Champion, has described how he was threatened by men brandishing machine guns in an attempted car-jacking in Sao Paulo.

The British driver was travelling back from the qualifying round of the Brazilian Grand Prix, in which he is competing today, when six men surrounded his black Mercedes B-Class, which is fitted with bullet-proof glass.

He was with his father, John, his trainer, Mike Collier, and manager Richard Goddard and was travelling past the entrance to one of the city’s “favelas”, or shanty towns.

“It was pretty terrifying,” Button said. “We were moving pretty slowly in traffic just outside when we pulled up outside the entrance to one of the favelas. I saw a dog and remarked 'Oh, cute dog’ when about six men came out. One of them appeared to be holding a truncheon.

“Then I said 'hey, isn’t that a gun?’ and as soon as I said that our driver angled the car and just floored it. He was a complete legend. We bounced off about five cars. We were literally driving over the top of them.

“It looked like we may have been targeted.”

Button, 30, qualified in 11th position for today’s race, which is the penultimate competition of the season.

Button is not expected to retain his title, which could be won today by Fernando Alonso.

Brazil’s favelas are notoriously lawless and crime-ridden shanty towns which have grown up on the edge of the country’s major cities.

The harsh life in the slums was depicted in the Oscar nominated 2002 film City of God.

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Hamilton: We're in a good position

Lewis Hamilton is burning with desire to step back onto the top step of the podium and help McLaren achieve "greatness" again.

Hamilton has so far endured a rollercoaster season that has resulted in frustration with the team's decision-making in Australia and Malaysia, a brush with the law Down Under, and a penultimate lap smash in Spain following a wheel-rim failure.

Despite claiming this season he is driving the best car McLaren have built for him, even better than his 2008 title-winner, victory continues to elude the far-from-happy 25-year-old.

For a driver so accustomed to taking the chequered flag in his first two seasons in Formula One, the last 18 months have been virtually barren by his high standards, as he has triumphed just twice in his last 24 grands prix.

It is a statistic that catches Hamilton by surprise when it is mentioned to him at McLaren's state-of-the-art Technology Centre in Woking at a promotional event for Vodafone's World of Difference programme, of which he is an ambassador.

"That's not good. That sounds terrible," said Hamilton.

"There were 17 races last year, the majority of which were pretty poor because generally we had a bad car.

"This year I've been unfortunate, but this is racing. Lots of drivers go years and years without having a win or being on the podium.

"So I'm just grateful I've had some wins, and I know I'm in the early stages of my career, so hopefully I have many more to come."

Victory in Turkey in 11 days' time would certainly go some way to easing the unhappiness he is currently feeling as he readily concedes the first part of the season has been up and down.

"In terms of results it's not been a very good season for me so far. I'm not particularly happy with the results I've had, but it's been a learning experience," added Hamilton.

"I've had some great races, and it's great to know the car is competitive, as fast as some of the other guys.

"We at least have a good base to work from, and with 13 races left, there are plenty to win, and lots more points available.

"Apart from once in Spain, I've at least consistently scored points, which is a benefit. Even if you have a bad weekend and you only get one point, it could really help at the end of the year."

But it is the taste of victory again that matters most to Hamilton. He is aware the wait has been too long for a driver of his talent, and given the team behind him - one he knows is not living up to its status at present but which Hamilton remains confident will do.

"The desire to win is burning inside," insisted Hamilton.

"It's there the whole of the way through the season, even if you do have a win because you get that taste and you want to keep on getting it, so it's constantly burning.

"As a team we are also putting ourselves under extreme pressure, and we will continue to do so because that is how you achieve greatness. At least that's how I feel.

"I do feel we will get there. I reckon it's going to take a couple of races and then we will be back up there, back at the front."

Team-mate Jenson Button has at least savoured success in his debut campaign with McLaren this year, although he experienced heartbreak in Monaco on Sunday when he retired after two laps due to a simple mistake made by one member of the team.

That was when a cooling cover was left on a sidepod that covers the radiator, resulting in the engine overheating.

After Hamilton's unreliability in Barcelona, the team have let themselves down over the past two weekends, something Button is looking to be corrected in Turkey next week.

"I was happy before the last two races which were frustrating, especially Monaco with the problem I had," said Button.

"But to be leading into Monaco after five races with the team was not too bad, although I'm obviously not leading now.

"However, it's a lot easier to chase. It's a more difficult position when you're out in front because you're always looking behind to see where the others are coming from.

"But we're still in a good position, and we have a strong team here. Although we've had a couple of issues in the last two races, we have to put those behind us now and focus on the next one in Turkey.

"We've got to come with a stronger car, and we can't make any mistakes."

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Formula 1 history and statistics since 1950

Formula 1 drivers teams circuits. Preview for next formula1 race

Last race in formula 1 was on 14 September at Monza

Formula 1 2008 statistics

Next formula 1 race will be on 
28 September Singapore
12 October Fuji
19 October Shanghai
2 November Interlagos

Formula 1 driver standing

78	Lewis Hamilton
77	Felipe Massa
64	Robert Kubica
57	Kimi Raikkonen
53	Nick Heidfeld
51	Heikki Kovalainen
28	Fernando Alonso
26	Jarno Trulli
23	Sebastian Vettel
20	Mark Webber
15	Timo Glock
13	Nelsinho Piquet
11	Rubens Barrichello
9	Nico Rosberg
8	Kazuki Nakajima
6	David Coulthard
4	Sebastian Bourdais
3	Jenson Button

Formula 1 team standing

134	Ferrari
129	McLaren
117	BMW
41	Toyota
41	Renault
27	Toro Rosso
26	Red Bull
17	Williams
14	Honda

Spa Francorchamps F1 top drivers

Most victories on Spa Francorchamps statistics is lead by Michael Schumacher with 6 victories from 13 races and he is in the top of most podiums 9 and most points on this track. Ayrton Senna have top pole positions 4 from 9 races while Alain Prost have 6 fastes laps in 9 races.

F1 pole positions in Spain

Top 10 pole position on all tracks in Spain is lead by Michael Schumacher with 8 pole positions 1 at Jerez and 7 at Catalunya. He is followed by Ayrton Senna with 4 pole positions all of them at Jerez.

Valencia F1 track

This week will be the first F1 street race in Valencia. Until now we had F1 races in Spain on tracks like : Catalunya, Montjuich Park, Jerez, Jarama and Pedralbes.

Lewis Hamilton - 10 F1 pole positions

At Hungaroring, the british driver Lewis Hamilton got the pole position number 10 in his F1 career. In 2007 on Lewis first race at Hungaroring obtain the pole and the victory, in 2007 he obtain just the pole position, he finish on position 5 because a tire problem.

Hungaroring 2008 F1 race

The Hungaroring 2008 F1 race brings a new driver to the first position on podium, Heikki Kovalainen. Timo Glock finish on 2nd place, his ever best position in a F1 race and the best position for Toyota in the last years.

Hungaroring Formula1 Pole Position

Michael Schumacher lead this statistics, and some years will lead it, because he had 7 pole positions on Hungaroring. Next in this stat is Ayrton Senna with 3 poles. Others two drivers had pole twice : Mika Hakkinen and Riccardo Patrese.

Hungaroring Best Jump

In the TOP 10 on Hungaroring we found not famous drivers, but they had at least a great race on Hungaroring. They start the race behind, and during the race they get in the top overtaking a few cars.

Hungaroring top 2nd place starts

On Hungaroring there are 14 drivers who start from the 2nd place in the F1 race, and 4 teams. At drivers David Coulthard lead this stat, while Williams is in top at teams.

Top retire on Hungaroring F1

On Hungaroring F1 track, like in any other formula 1 track drivers retire during the race. On Hungaroring Fisichella, Alesi and Frentzen lead this statistics with 6 retires each.

Hungaroring F1 points

The top points driver statistics on Hungaroring is lead by 3 F1 Champions Schumacher, Senna and Hill. Teams statistics is lead by McLaren, Williams and Ferrari.

Nelsinho Piquet first podium on his 10th race at Hockenheim

Nelsinho Piquet finish on 2nd place, his ever best F1 finish. In other 3 finish races he was on place 7 at Magny Cours, 11 at Sepang and 15 at Istanbul.

Ayrton Senna and the pole positions at Hockenheim

Hamilton got the pole position at Hockenheim 2008 F1 race, at his first race on this track. In the past 9 drivers got pole more than once, and we have 3 drivers with 3 poles at Hockenheim : Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna and Nigel Mansell

Experience F1 drivers at Hockenheim

In 2008 at Hockenheim will start 20 F1 drivers, only 4 of them drive at least 10 races on this track, 8 drivers with less than 10 races and 10 drivers will made the debut at Hockenheim.

Rubens Barrichello back on podium

Rubens Barrichello was back on podium in the Silverstone F1 race driving for Honda. This was the 62 podium for Rubens, the last one was while he drive for Ferrari in 2005 at Indianapolis. In 2005, his last year at Ferrari, he had 4 podiums.

Ferrari in the 3rd race without podium in 2008 F1

In this year Ferrari was not on podium in 3 F1 races : Melbourne, Montreal and Silverstone.

7 teams got points in 2008 Silverston race

After an amazing race at Silverstone we have a beautiful podium and again 7 teams getting points. In 2008 F1 season this is the 3rd race after Catalunya and Monte Carlo.

Top 10 driver points on Magny Cours

On Magny Cours we have 12 drivers which will start in 2008 F1 race and got points. There are 4 drivers with more than 10 races : Barrichello 15, Coulthard 13, Fisichella 12 and Trulli 11.

Magny Cours fastest laps

In the top drivers with fastest lap at Magny Cours we have just 8 drivers. But I will add other 2 at this top Lewis Hamilton and Milan Baros which are fast drivers in France

Montreal driver F1 victories

We have 19 drivers with victories at Montreal F1 race and 14 drivers won this track only once

Montreal F1 Pole Positions

From the 2008 F1 drivers, 4 of them have a pole position at Montreal : Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton, David Coulthard and Jenson Button

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