04/20/24
November 07, 2010
Jenson Button Escapes Carjacking Attempt: Reigning Formula One champion Jenson Button escaped a carjacking attempt in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Saturday evening. As five or six armed men approached an armored car carrying Button and his father that was stuck in a traffic jam, the undercover police officer driving the car managed to escape. "There were two guys with small hand guns along with one guy who had a big gun that looked like a machine gun," Button said. "The driver saw it and floored it. There wasn't enough room to get through so we were banging through all the cars, and eventually made it."
posted by rcade to auto racing at 12:07 PM - 10 comments
But Drood, Sao Paulo's is "about as dangerous as Oxford Street". I couldn't believe Ecclestone's comments when I heard them live. I thought he had to be drunk or something. He's always been exactly what you call him, Drood, but I'm thinking he's losing it. He's not a young man and his old-man's-belligerence is starting to show.
posted by JJ at 03:12 PM on November 07, 2010
When we go to Sao Paulo with work we get given a card to hand to any would be kidnappers that says "[Large International Company] pays ransoms for its staff" asks for good treatment of the staff member and then contains a number the kidnappers can call to pick up their money.
It's nowhere near as safe as the La-la-land that Ecclestone inhabits.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 03:35 PM on November 07, 2010
JJ: Yeah, Ecclestone always was an arse, but he was an amusing arse. To make light of a very serious situation (and there's already talk that they won't be returning to Sao Paulo because of this) is reprehensible.
Who did he say that too? I was watching Speed and Will Buxton asked Ecclestone if they'd be coming back. Ecclestone basically called Jenson a liar in so many words.
Bismarck: Really? Holy shit!!!
Scary stuff.
I really do wonder what's going to happen when Ecclestone eventually snuffs it.
posted by Drood at 05:28 PM on November 07, 2010
I really do wonder what's going to happen when Ecclestone eventually snuffs it.
He'll battle Satan for the throne of Hell?
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 05:37 PM on November 07, 2010
My money's on Bernie...
He'd probably claim ownership of it, just like he did F1...
posted by Drood at 06:30 PM on November 07, 2010
Who did he say that too?
The interview I heard was on Radio 5 in the UK - sounded like a grid-walk effort. He said it was all a "misunderstanding" and then dribbled on about hat salesmen.
posted by JJ at 05:03 AM on November 08, 2010
What a douchebag.
posted by Drood at 09:03 AM on November 08, 2010
From the land of the fitting and just:
When one goes to launch a Google search on Ecclestone, as soon as the letters "Eccles" are typed in, the auto-complete feature urges the typist toward all things Ecclesiastes.
posted by beaverboard at 09:34 AM on November 08, 2010
Ecclestone isn't any dumber than the IOC who scheduled the 2016 summer olympics in Rio de Janeiro, the crime capital of the world.
posted by irunfromclones at 03:02 PM on November 09, 2010
Sadly Mark Webber has not escaped Christian Horner's Titlejacking attempt...
Did you hear Ecclestone's remark about the Button incident when asked if it jeopardised the future of the race? He completely dismissed it as lies and said "Someone tried to sell him a hat".
Ecclestone is a fucking asshole. Three Sauber guys WERE robbed at gunpoint in Sao Paulo this weekend.
Also of note: Karun Chandhok was mugged at Monza and lost his laptop.