For Yuki Tsunoda, this 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix started off with a bang. And it wasn't his test drive of an IndyCar that sent him into the laps, but rather his arrival at the airport where the American customs services made him spend a hell of a quarter of an hour.
Indeed, the Japanese was held longer than expected by customs officers, known for their firmness, this Wednesday. A moment which lasted for many hours according to the Racing Bulls driver who did not expect to start his weekend like this even though there was once talk of a possible dismissal!
« Luckily, they let me go after two or three exchangeshe rejoiced when arriving in the paddock. Well, quite a few exchanges, in fact… For two to three hours…. I was almost sent home. This seemed a bit strange to me given my frequent travel to the country and the fact that I have a valid visa. I was in my pajamas, so maybe I didn't look like a Formula 1 driver. They didn't believe I was one. »
Yuki Tsunoda even explained that he experienced this situation alone while traveling accompanied. “ There was my physiotherapist (John Noonan) who I travel withhe continues. But when you go through customs, you do it individually (…) Suddenly, [l’officier] brought me into the room and when I had an exchange with him, I asked if I could bring the person I was traveling with. Maybe he could help me explain my situation and that of Formula 1 a little more. But they didn't allow me to be accompanied or even to call anyone. I also wanted to call the team, or maybe F1, to help me. But in this room there's nothing we can do. » Luckily, everything ended well. Maybe Yuki Tsunoda won't show up at US customs in his pajamas in the future.
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