'Formula One cars can be hacked'

A Russian information security specialist has warned that internet activists can hack Formula One cars as the onboard computers are connected to the internet.

The warning comes amidst growing fears that a Grand Prix can be targeted by hackers.

Eugene Kaspersky spoke on the issue after a car was bought to a halt on a drive way for the first time by experts 10 miles away using only a smartphone and a laptop, reports mirror.co.uk on Wednesday.

Kaspersky, warned F1 cars are at risk because they carry dozens of sophisticated computers.

"The race is well protected, it is hard to hack, but the rest of Formula 1 faces those problems," he said.

"We have no evidence of anyone hacking a race car so far but when it is in the pits and connected to another computer connected to the internet then, yes, it is possible. All the systems around us are vulnerable - unfortunately, it is possible to hack anything," added the 49-year-old.

Hackers earlier threatened to jeopardise the 2013 Bahrain Grand Prix after being successful in blacking out the F1 official website, but failed to disrupt the race.