THE new £70million HQ of F1 giants Mercedes was hit by a £60,000 tool theft raid.
Dozens of tradespeople on the site — currently being transformed into a motorsports hub — had equipment stolen from supposedly safe security boxes.
Bosses at the 12-time F1 constructors’ champions have passed CCTV footage to police after tools were snatched from what will become a library and the boardroom at the complex in Brackley, Northants.
A source told The Sun: “The tools were kept in lock boxes, they were broken into, and everything had been taken.
“You can imagine over 50 tradespeople, four weeks before Christmas…
“Their tools are their livelihood.
“It’s how they buy presents for their kids.
“They were devastated.
“The noise it would have generated would have been noticeable.
“It’s shocking that security guards didn’t know anything or hear any noises.”
The overnight raid on Thursday came as Mercedes’ drivers George Russell and Kimi Antonelli were preparing for Sunday’s Qatar Grand Prix.
Mercedes’ F1 base at Brackley is being overhauled, with a new marketing centre, wellbeing hub, restaurant, gym and multi-storey car park.
Figures show more than 25,000 tool thefts were reported in 2024, costing British businesses an estimated £40million.
