Settlement Reached After 2023 Las Vegas GP Disaster

Liberty Media, the commercial rights owner of Formula 1, and the Las Vegas Grand Prix have agreed to a multimillion-dollar settlement to end a class-action lawsuit over the inaugural 2023 race. The parties will pay $3,047,986 to compensate affected fans.

Who Is Eligible for Compensation

Individuals who had Thursday-only tickets, or those with three-day tickets, are eligible to receive compensation, whether purchased directly from the defendants or received transferred tickets purchased from the defendants.

Those who purchased a ticket directly from the defendants or from Ticketmaster don't need to file a claim, but otherwise, fans need to submit a claim by August 27, 2026.

"We're pleased this matter has reached a fair resolution for fans and provides a path forward. Our focus remains on the upcoming Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix 2026 and delivering a world-class experience for our fans," Las Vegas GP said in a statement to The Athletic.

What Went Wrong in 2023

The first practice session of the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix came to an end roughly nine minutes into the session, after Carlos Sainz ran over a water valve cover on the straight on Las Vegas Boulevard. It came loose and wrecked the underside of his car.

The incident caused the second practice session to be delayed, as race officials checked the other water valve covers around the circuit. After a two-and-a-half-hour delay, FP2 took place in front of empty grandstands. Fans were sent home before the session to avoid a logistical nightmare.

Renee Wilm, then-CEO of the race, and F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali said in a joint statement at the time that delaying the start of second practice to 2:30 am PT, after originally being scheduled for midnight, "created risks for our employees and our fans."

They closed fan areas an hour before FP2 started and sent everyone home for three reasons:

• Public safety concern element, as well as for the security officials working the event
• Legal element for the transportation employees, because "by Federal law, they were bumping up against the amount of time they can legally and safely drive buses" to transport fans
• Hospitality staff needed the ability to clean and resupply guest areas to ensure that the fan experience is optimal for everyone over the coming days

Lawsuit Timeline and Settlement Terms

The class action lawsuit was electronically filed in November 2023 and amended in March 2025, seeking a partial refund for the tickets. The plaintiffs alleged breach of contract, claiming "their admission to the race viewing areas was wrongfully revoked without a refund before the FP2 Free Practice Session could begin."

The two sides eventually "reached a voluntary settlement to avoid lengthy litigation and expedite relief to consumers."

Liberty Media and Las Vegas GP have not been found liable for any of the class-action lawsuit's claims. The parties "deny any wrongdoing and maintain that there is no legal entitlement to a refund," and "the Court has not decided who is right."

The settlement agreement was filed on March 3, 2026, but a final approval hearing, or a "Fairness Hearing," will be held on November 4, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. PT at the United States District Court for the District of Nevada.

"The proposed settlement strikes a good balance by providing meaningful compensation to affected fans now while eliminating the risk that years of additional litigation and appeals could result in them recovering less or nothing at all," said Steve Dimopoulos, the attorney who filed the lawsuit and negotiated the settlement.