SAO PAULO, Nov. 12 -- The Sauber Formula 1 team became the latest victim of an attempted robbery at the Brazilian Grand Prix, prompting local officials to admit that action is needed to guarantee public safety at the event.

A van carrying Sauber staff was deliberately hit from behind by another car while a second vehicle waited in front, according to the Swiss team's senior strategy engineer, Ruth Buscombe.

She said the would-be-thieves only sped away when they realized that the Sauber vehicle would not stop.

"We even left at an odd time, late, but they either followed us or were alerted of a van heading that way, past the end of the police presence near the track," Buscombe said on Twitter.

Saturday night's incident came despite assurances from local officials that security had been beefed up around the Interlagos circuit.

On Friday, vehicles carrying members of Mercedes, Williams and F1 governing body FIA were also targets of armed robbers as they left the venue.

Sao Paulo mayor Jo?o Doria denied the incidents would threaten the future of the Brazilian Grand Prix.

"The matter has been raised by the state public security department and by the governor's office," Doria told reporters on Sunday.

"We need to take action. When action is taken you win back confidence. Unfortunately it sometimes takes a bad incident to ensure that in the future these events won't happen again."

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