Formula One F1 – Las Vegas Grand Prix – Las Vegas Strip Circuit, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States – November 21, 2024 RB’s Yuki Tsunoda before practice. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

Japanese F1 driver Yuki Tsunoda said he “nearly got sent back home” by U.S. border officials when he arrived for Saturday’s Las Vegas Grand Prix.

The 24-year-old racer for Red Bull-owned RB told reporters Wednesday that he was wearing pajamas when he was pulled aside and questioned for several hours before being allowed into the country.

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“Luckily, they let me in after a couple of discussions,” he said. “Well, a lot of discussions, actually … I nearly got sent back home. Everything is all good now but yeah, luckily I’m here.”

Tsunoda said he had no issues entering the U.S. earlier this year for races in Miami and Austin, Texas.

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“I was wearing pajamas, so maybe I didn’t look like an F1 driver,” Tsunoda said.

It was not immediately clear where Tsunoda went through customs.

Tsunoda has eight top-10 finishes in 21 starts this season and currently ranks 11th in the F1 drivers’ standings. –Field Level Media