Formula 1 settles Las Vegas fan lawsuit for $2.8 million

Formula 1 is paying out approximately 2.6 million euros to settle a class-action lawsuit brought by angry fans over the chaotic 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix. The race weekend was marred by a defective manhole cover on the track, which forced the cancellation of the first practice session just minutes after it began. This incident left many of the 32,000 affected fans without the "asphalt action" they paid for, particularly those with single-day tickets.

Liberty Media, which owns Formula 1 and organized the race, has agreed to the settlement to avoid further legal battles. The company and the Las Vegas Grand Prix organizers have not admitted any wrongdoing. A final court hearing is scheduled for November 4 in Nevada. "We are pleased that this matter has led to a fair resolution for the fans and now paves the way for the future," a spokesperson for the organizer was quoted as saying.

The incident caused significant disruption. After the manhole cover was discovered, all such covers on the entire track had to be removed, filled with sand and asphalt. The second practice session eventually started two and a half hours late, by which time many fans had already left the venue. In an attempt to appease ticket holders who only attended the opening day, Formula 1 offered merchandise vouchers worth about 183 euros. However, the lawsuit argued that these fans were not offered a refund for their tickets, seeking financial compensation instead.

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We are pleased that this matter has led to a fair resolution for the fans and now paves the way for the future.