Mexico Grand Prix: Mercedes team member robbed at gunpoint to raise security fears

The team member and the driver of the car escaped unharmed but had wallets and watches stolen

A Mercedes team member was robbed at gunpoint in Mexico City on Friday (Getty)

A member of Lewis Hamilton's world championship-winning Mercedes team has been robbed at gunpoint ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix.

The harrowing incident, involving two gunmen, occurred as the individual was travelling in a chauffeur-driven vehicle from Mexico City Airport to the team's hotel on Wednesday.

While both the member of the Mercedes team, who was not wearing branded apparel, and driver were unhurt in the ordeal, the incident is likely to raise security concerns ahead of Sunday's race.

The member of Mercedes staff has chosen to stay in Mexico for the race.

"A team member was robbed while travelling from the airport towards the city on Wednesday when in heavy stationary traffic," a Mercedes spokesperson told the Press Association.

"Wallets and watches were taken and there were no physical injuries, but they were a little shaken up for obvious reasons."

The spokesperson declined to elaborate on whether the team would take further safety precautions, and that the Mercedes personnel was unnamed but not of high profile.

In the latest security guidelines issued by the British government, crime and violence is recorded as "a serious problem" in Mexico, while visitors are urged to "keep car doors locked and windows closed, especially at traffic lights".

The ordeal is not the first of its kind in Formula One.

Jenson Button was threatened by gunmen in Sao Paolo ahead of the 2010 Brazilian Grand Prix. Button, then the reigning world champion, was returning to his hotel following qualifying at the Interlagos circuit when his vehicle was approached by at least three men brandishing machine guns.

The team member had watches and wallets stolen but escaped unharmed (Getty)

Button, who was travelling with his late father John, trainer Mike Collier and manager Richard Goddard, managed to flee the scene unharmed in the incident.

Meanwhile, three Sauber engineers were robbed at gunpoint on the same evening. They were also unhurt.

PA