Formula 1 to pay $3 million settlement for Las Vegas GP mishap

Liberty Media, the commercial‑rights owner of Formula 1, agreed to a multimillion‑dollar settlement to end a class‑action lawsuit filed by roughly 32,000 spectators of the inaugural 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix. The lawsuit stemmed from a practice‑session disruption on 16 November 2023, when a defective water‑valve cover on the circuit’s sewer system damaged Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari and forced a two‑and‑a‑half‑hour delay. Fans were removed from the grandstands and the session resumed only in the early hours of 17 November, leaving many ticket‑holders without the experience they paid for. The settlement provides about $3.0 million (approximately €2.6 million) to compensate eligible ticket holders, with claims to be filed by 27 August and a final court hearing scheduled for 4 November before the U.S. District Court in Nevada. Liberty Media and the Las Vegas Grand Prix did not admit liability, but the agreement aims to resolve the dispute and allow the event’s future editions to proceed.

The settlement terms include cash payouts or vouchers for those who purchased Thursday‑only tickets or three‑day passes, while fans who bought tickets directly from the promoters are automatically covered. The case highlights operational risks of street‑circuit events and the legal responsibilities of race organizers toward spectators.