Yuki Tsunoda has revealed that upon his arrival in the United States earlier this week, he briefly feared he would be sent back home. He was taken aside by customs for questioning at the airport. The Japanese driver had previously traveled to the United States for a promotional event ahead of the Grand Prix.
Ongoing Issues at the Airport
Tsunoda traveled to Las Vegas earlier this week, but during passport control, he encountered doubts about his admission to the country. The Japanese driver was taken by customs to a separate room for an extensive conversation with the immigration service. “I really thought I had to go back home,” Tsunoda says. “Fortunately, they eventually let me through, but it took a lot of conversations to explain everything.”
No Contact Allowed
In the interrogation room, Tsunoda tried to gain more clarity about the situation. He asked if someone from his team, or his physiotherapist who traveled with him, could assist in the conversation. However, this was not allowed. “I wasn’t allowed to call anyone, not even my team or anyone from Formula 1. You have to manage on your own there.”
Tsunoda emphasizes that he was not aware of any problem, as he had the correct visas. Moreover, he has recently been in America without any issues during the triple-header of Austin, Mexico, and Brazil. “Everything was arranged. I’ve been granted access before, so it felt strange that I was stopped and had to have a long conversation,” says the Japanese driver.
