Yuki Tsunoda has revealed he was almost not granted entry to the United States by border control ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix.
The RB driver explained that he “nearly got sent back home” by customs workers, despite having already raced in the country twice this season, in Miami and Austin, respectively.
Border control in the United States is known to be strict, but the Japanese driver stopped short of explaining the reasons why he was questioned.
“Luckily, they let me in after a couple of discussions,” he told media including RacingNews365 when recalling the situation.
“Well, a lot of discussions, actually. But yeah, I nearly got sent back home. Everything is all good, so I’m here now.”
Tsunoda stated that he was held for “two or three hours”, saying it “felt a bit strange” given his frequent travel to the country and the fact he has a valid visa.
The 24-year-old re-entered the American nation early, taking part in promotional activities with Max Verstappen, where he had the opportunity to drive an IndyCar.
“I did the visas and everything. It’s been the same the last three tracks, right? I was able to enter smoothly at the previous track [Circuit of the Americas],” he added.
“Felt a bit strange that I got stopped and had a proper discussion. Luckily, it didn’t go on more than two or three hours.
“It’s not the first time we’ve come here this year. I heard a lot of things, but hopefully that is all well in the future – and smoothly.”
‘If I say something, I feel like I’m in more trouble’
Tsunoda explained that he was not travelling with the team, but only with his physio. This left it difficult to get the support he needed in the midst of the situation to prove who he was.
“There was my physio I travel with, but when you go through customs, you go individually,” he said.
“He [the border control agent] put me in a room and we had a conversation.”
The RB driver confirmed that he asked if he could be accompanied to help explain the situation, but was not allowed.
“‘Can I bring the person who I’ve travelled with? Maybe he can help a little bit to explain bit more about myself and the situation that I’m a Formula 1 [driver]’,” he recollected. “But they didn’t allow me. [They] didn’t allow that, for me to bring that friend – or even call anyone.
“I wanted to call to the team as well, or Formula 1, maybe that person can help me, but in that room, you can’t do anything.”
When asked if it was a case that border control did not believe he was an F1 driver, he replied: “Maybe. I was wearing pyjamas, so maybe I didn’t look like an F1 driver.
“I’m sure he [the customs officer] knew it,” he added. “Having the conversation, he even he asked me the salary and everything.
“[It’s an] uncomfortable thing, just feels like the things that I got a lot of pressure from them for, I couldn’t say anything.
“If I say something, I feel like I’m in more in trouble. Hopefully all things [are] solved. Luckily, I went through smoothly [in the end].”
