Lewis Hamilton has urged Formula One to improve security after armed robbers held up members of his Mercedes team outside the Brazilian Grand Prix circuit.
"Some of my team were held up at gunpoint last night leaving the circuit here in Brazil. Gun shots fired, gun held at ones head. This is so upsetting to hear," the four-times world champion said on Twitter on Saturday.
"Please say a prayer for my guys who are here as professionals today even if shaken.
"This happens every single year here. F1 and the teams need to do more, there's no excuse."
A team spokesman confirmed that valuables were stolen but nobody was injured in the incident.
A Mercedes team member was also robbed at gunpoint in Mexico last year while travelling by car from the airport to his hotel.
Mercedes have won both of this year's championships for the fourth year in a row with Lewis Hamilton arriving in Brazil as a four-times world champion.
Published 11 November 2017, 18:56 IST