The Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix and its parent company, Liberty Media Corp., have reached a preliminary settlement of over $3 million with approximately 32,000 ticket holders affected by a disruption during the inaugural 2023 Grand Prix weekend. A federal judge has granted preliminary approval for the settlement, which is slated for final approval in November.
The incident occurred during the first practice session when then-Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz struck a loose drain cover, causing significant damage to his car's floor and energy store. The session was red-flagged and ultimately canceled, leading to a lengthy delay for the second practice session as crews worked to secure the remaining drain covers. This disruption caused thousands of fans to leave the venue before the next session could begin.
Attorney Steve Dimopoulos filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of ticket holders, asserting that the track organizers' attempts to rectify the situation were insufficient. The settlement establishes a $3.05 million common fund for eligible ticket holders. The exact amount each ticket holder will receive will vary based on factors such as ticket type, participation rates, and administrative expenses.
The 2023 drain cover incident also led to a ten-place grid penalty for Sainz after his car required a new engine due to the damage sustained. This occurred during a critical point in the season when Ferrari was in a close battle with Mercedes for second place in the championship standings.
The Las Vegas Grand Prix has since secured a place on the F1 schedule through 2037, with subsequent races having proceeded without major incident.