The inaugural Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix weekend featured a memorable incident during the first practice session when Carlos Sainz, driving for Ferrari at the time, collided with a loose drain cover. This caused significant damage to his car’s floor and energy store, also affecting the vehicle of then-Alpine driver Esteban Ocon.

The incident led to a red flag, canceling the session and postponing the second practice for several hours. This delay prompted many spectators to leave before the next event could start. Following this disruption, attorney Steve Dimopoulos launched a class action lawsuit, arguing that the efforts to rectify the situation were insufficient.

According to the Las Vegas Review Journal, court documents indicated that a federal judge granted preliminary approval for a settlement with LVGP and its parent company, Liberty Media Corp., totaling over $3 million. Final approval is expected in November.

Dimopoulos explained to The New York Post that the settlement created a $3.05 million fund for approximately 32,000 ticket holders. Payments will vary based on ticket type, participation rates, attorney’s fees, and administrative costs. If all eligible individuals participate, the compensation might be minimal, perhaps enough for a souvenir hat.

Despite the incident, the Las Vegas Grand Prix has operated successfully for three years and remains part of the F1 calendar until 2037. However, the drain cover event led to further issues in 2023 when Sainz’s Ferrari required a new engine, resulting in a ten-place grid penalty. This occurred as Ferrari was closely competing with Mercedes for second place in the championship.

Matthew Reigle reports for OutKick.