Getty Image
Formula 1 driver Yuki Tsunoda made a surprising revelation on Thursday when he told members of the media that he was nearly denied entry into the United States for Sunday’s Las Vegas Grand Prix. Tsunoda said that he had no issues when F1 came to the U.S. earlier this season for the Miami and United States Grands Prix in Austin.
Tsunoda, who is Japanese, said that United States customs agents nearly made him return “back home” after being held for questioning.
“Luckily, they let me in after a couple of discussions,” he said. “Well, a lot of discussions, actually … I nearly got sent back home.”
Tsunoda, 24, said that he was traveling alongside his personal trainer but that the two were separated when going through customs. He then said that he was taken aside for individual questioning which included several rounds of discussions.
“And suddenly he [the official] just put me in the room and when I had a conversation I was like: can I bring the person that I’m going to travel with? Maybe he can help a little bit to explain a bit more about myself and the situation in Formula 1?
“But they didn’t allow me to bring them or even call anyone. I wanted to call the team as well, or maybe F1 so they can help me. But in that room, you can’t do anything.”
Tsunoda then claimed that he wondered if the way he was dressed had anything to do with the matter.
“Maybe I was wearing pajamas and the color looks like a… I don’t know,” he said. “It just feels that I got a lot of pressure from them, and I couldn’t say anything. Otherwise, if I say something I feel like I’m more in trouble. Luckily I went through smoothly.”
Thankfully, nothing larger came from the incident. Tsunoda is in his fourth season in F1. He currently sits 11th in the series point standings, which would be his highest career finish.