In the first free practice of the Las Vegas Formula 1 Grand Prix, a sewer cover came loose and caused damage to Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari, also affecting Esteban Ocon’s Alpine on a smaller scale. The situation led to the cancellation of the session after less than fifteen minutes and a significant delay in FP2 – which, due to the late hour, could not have spectators in the stands because the necessary staff was not available after the session. And now, these spectators may seek a million-dollar compensation.
The compensation offered by the championship for those who had tickets to the event was $200 in discounts at the official merchandise stores on-site. A solution that did not please the affected parties. And the legal company Dimopoulos has already filed a lawsuit on behalf of the 35,000 affected fans, together with JK Legal & Consulting, according to Motorsport.com.
The legal action speaks of ‘breach of contract, negligence, and deceptive trade’ by the Las Vegas Grand Prix and TAB Contractors – the company responsible for track maintenance. The claim alleges: ‘The sealing of the sewer cover that was supposed to surround the cover was installed, worked on, and inspected by TAB under its contract to work on the track and prepare the track for the races. The track work carried out by TAB, including the installation of the sewer cover that collapsed and the cement that sealed the cover, was completed just days before the training event, and the track was not in a prepared condition at the time of the event’.
The legal representatives of the fans believe that F1 and/or their respective contractors and security entities had an obligation to inspect the track and ensure its safety and readiness. In addition, the document suggests that the ticket’s contractual conditions provided for a refund in case of cancellation instead of rescheduling.
Individual compensations of $30,000 per fan (€27,400) are claimed, which, when calculated, could force F1 to pay nearly one billion euros in compensation. On the other hand, Ferrari itself does not exclude seeking compensation for the damage caused to Sainz’s car, as we have already reported in this article.
