Sao Paulo (Brazil), Nov 8 (DPA) Reigning Formula One world champion Jenson Button has escaped an attack by an armed gang unharmed, it emerged Sunday.

Button was quoted as saying that the attack occurred when he was returning from qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix to his hotel Saturday with his father, his manager and a trainer.

He said that swift action from his police driver of the armoured car in which they were travelling brought them away from the scene and to safety.

"We were going back from the track and were outside a shanty town and moving slowly on a busy road," the McLaren driver said.

"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."

McLaren said in a statement: "The Sao Paulo authorities have acted efficiently and will provide additional security for Sunday's Brazilian Grand Prix."