Federal court paves way for $3M payout to F1 fans burned by 2023 loose drain cover fiasco

Formula One fans affected by the loose drain cover fiasco at the 2023 Las Vegas Grand Prix are now one step closer to being monetarily compensated for their troubles.

F1 leadership agreed to dole out $3 million in March to help those who were impacted by the saga in Sin City three years ago, court records viewed by The California Post showed.

While the final class action settlement still has to be rubber stamped at a hearing in November, the move is expected as a federal judge in Nevada preliminarily granted approval of it on March 9.

Attorney Steve Dimopoulos, who represented those allegedly wronged in the ordeal, said “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.”

Dimopoulos first assisted in the filing of the class action suit shortly after a water valve cover caused chaos at the ’23 LVGP.

As Carlos Sainz Jr. drove around the track during a Nov. 16 practice run, he hit the drain cover and his Ferrari sustained significant damage.

The incident led to lengthy delays, as officials required hours to fix the problem around the track. By the time things restarted, many fans who had purchased tickets to watch the action had left.

Dimopoulos argued in the suit that remedies race officials had offered at the time — which included $200 merchandise vouchers — were not enough reimbursement for all the drama.

“The settlement establishes a $3.05 million common fund for holders of approximately 32,000 eligible tickets,” Dimopoulos said in a statement released to The Post. “Individual payments will vary depending on ticket type, participation rates, attorney’s fees, costs and administrative expenses.”

Dimopoulos said eligible class members who have been identified by LVGP and Ticketmaster records are expected to get automatic payments. However, others affected “may be required to submit claim forms,” he said.

Despite the tribulation, the LVGP was still held in 2023, ’24 and ’25, and is expected to occur annually through 2037.

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