Las Vegas Grand Prix: Drain Cover Incident Leads to Class Action Lawsuit
One of the standout moments of the first F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend was, surprisingly, not during the race or even the qualifying sessions.
It actually happened during the very first practice session. Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz struck a loose drain cover, which badly damaged his car’s floor and energy storage system. This incident also impacted the vehicle of then-Alpine driver Esteban Ocon.
The session was halted and eventually canceled, with the second practice getting postponed for hours as teams worked to fix the circuit and secure the loose drain covers. This delay caused many fans to leave the venue before the next session started.
In light of this, attorney Steve Dimopoulos filed a class action lawsuit, claiming that the measures taken to address the issue were insufficient.
Documents reveal that a federal judge has tentatively approved a settlement exceeding $3 million with LVGP and its parent company, Liberty Media Corporation. This settlement is expected to receive final confirmation in November.
Dimopoulos mentioned that this agreement will create a $3.05 million fund for about 32,000 affected ticket holders. He noted that individual payout amounts would differ based on ticket type and costs associated with legal fees and administration.
The specifics of what each person will receive hinge on the total number of claimants. If all 32,000 decide to join in, well, individual payouts might be just enough for a hat at the next Las Vegas Grand Prix. A very basic one, of course.
It’s worth mentioning that this race has been going on smoothly for three years now and is slated to remain a part of the F1 calendar until 2037.
This incident in 2023 not only generated controversy but also led to significant repercussions for Sainz, as the damage to his car necessitated a new engine, resulting in a 10-place grid penalty. This occurred during a critical time when Ferrari was in tight competition with Mercedes for second place in the championship standings.
