YUKI TSUNODA was almost refused entry to the US ahead of the Las Vegas Grand Prix, he has revealed.

Visa Cash App The RB driver was questioned for three hours by US border officials before he was eventually allowed into the country.

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Las Vegas represents the third and final race of the season taking place in USA after Miami Grand Prix and the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas i Texas.

But he was almost unable to compete this time after the three-week layoff from Brazil Grand Prix.

The 24-year-old flew to America for a promotional event in Vegas earlier this week, but ran into trouble at the airport.

He said: “They let me in after a couple of discussions.

“Well, a lot of discussion—in fact, I almost got sent home.

“Everything is fine now, luckily I’m here now.

“I had a visa and everything, I guess I’ve been the same for the last three tracks, haven’t I?

“I was able to get in smoothly (on) earlier tracks.

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“It felt a bit strange to be stopped and have a proper discussion.

“Fortunately, it didn’t take more than two or three hours.

“But yes, I felt it was going to be a long journey for me.”

It’s still unclear why he was stopped at customs, and the Japanese driver admitted it was difficult because he couldn’t call anyone from the team to help him.

He added: “Obviously, when you have questions and go to customs, you go individually.

“I went to the room, he sat me in the room and we had a conversation, even like ‘Can I bring the person traveling with me and maybe he can help a little bit by explaining a little bit more about myself and the situation in Formula 1 ?’

“But they wouldn’t let me bring that friend or even call anything. I wanted to call the team or F1 it can help me, but in that room you can’t do anything.

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“I was wearing pyjamas, so maybe I didn’t look like an F1 driver!

“I got a lot of pressure from them, but I was like, I couldn’t say anything else — if I say anything, I feel like I’m in more trouble.”

Tsunoda managed to end a barren run of seven races without any points during the wet Brazilian race weekend.

His P7 finish at Interlagos was his highest ever finish in motorsport and resulted in a six-point haul.

With just three races left in the season, Tsunoda sits P11 in the drivers’ standings, three points behind tenth place Nico Hulkenberg.

More positive news for Tsunoda has seen him unveil a stunning helmet for the glamorous Vegas race.

Max Verstappen can win the F1 title in Vegas if he improves Lando Norris‘ point move with three.

His brilliant recovery from P17 to win in Brazil almost sealed the deal for a fourth world title.

F1 2025 grid

Here are the confirmed driver line-ups for the F1 2025 season so far:

Red Bull: Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez

Ferrari: Charles Leclerc and Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes: George Russell and Kimi Antonelli

McLaren: Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri

Aston Martin: Fernando Alonso and Lance Stroll

Williams: Alex Albon and Carlos Sainz

Sauber: Nico Hulkenberg and Gabriel Bortoleto

alpine: Pierre Gasly and Jack Doohan

RB: Yuki Tsunoda and TBC

Haas: Ollie Bearman and Esteban Ocon