Red Bull Formula 1 trophies stolen in Milton Keynes factory raid Published duration 6 December 2014

image copyright Getty Images image caption Four-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel visited the factory last week before leaving to join Ferrari for 2015

More than 60 trophies won by Red Bull Racing have been stolen from the Formula 1 team's Milton Keynes factory after a 4x4 drove through the entrance.

Six men used the vehicle to gain access to the site in Bradbourne Drive, Tilbrook, about 01:30 GMT.

Team principal Christian Horner said they were "devastated" by the break-in as the trophies "took years and hard work to accumulate".

Night staff working at the site were not harmed, Thames Valley Police said.

'Aggressive break-in'

Horner said: "The break-in caused significant damage and was very upsetting for our night officers who were on duty at the time.

"Beyond the aggressive nature of this break-in, we are perplexed why anyone would take these trophies.

image copyright South Beds News Agency image caption A silver 4x4 drove through the glass entrance to the Red Bull Racing factory in Milton Keynes

"The value to the team is of course extraordinarily high due to the sheer hard work and effort that went into winning each and every one.

"But their intrinsic value is low; they would be of little benefit to those outside of the team and, in addition to that, many of the trophies on display were replicas."

image copyright Getty Images image caption Sebastian Vettel won 39 Grand Prix with Red Bull and its junior team, Toro Rosso

image copyright Getty Images image caption Sebastian Vettel (centre) and Christian Horner (front left) celebrate winning the Belgian Grand Prix in 2013

The F1 championship and constructors trophies were not at the factory, having been presented to Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes for winning the 2014 titles.

"The actions of these men mean it's likely that we will have to make our site less accessible in the future, which will be unfair on the hundreds of fans that travel to visit our factory each year to see our trophies and our Formula 1 car", added Horner.

image copyright Getty Images image caption "The value to the team is of course extraordinarily high," said team principal Christian Horner

In addition to the silver 4x4, a black or dark blue Mercedes estate car was also involved. Both are believed to have foreign number plates, police said.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses.

image copyright South Beds News Agency image caption Red Bull Racing has warned the factory may be "less accessible" to Formula 1 fans in the future