The Las Vegas Grand Prix faces a class-action lawsuit filed by Formula One fans who were made to leave the venue early Friday morning before the second practice session began. The lawsuit, seeking at least $30,000 in damages, was filed by Dimopoulos Law Firm and co-counsel JK Legal & Consulting in Nevada state court. The fans who purchased tickets for the race’s opening night only saw nine minutes of action before Carlos Sainz Jr. damaged his Ferrari by running over a water valve cover, leading to a five-and-a-half hour break to repair the track. The second practice session started at 2:30 a.m. in an empty venue, and race officials offered a $200 discount at the official gift shop, but only for those with single-night tickets on Thursday. The majority of fans hold three-day passes. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the 35,000 people who bought tickets for Thursday’s practice run, naming Formula One owners and race promoters Liberty Media Corporation, DBA Formula One Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix, and TAB Contractors Inc. F1 President Stefano Domenicali and Las Vegas Grand Prix CEO Renee Wilm defended their actions, citing safety and legal reasons for closing the track to spectators. The qualifying session took place on Friday without incident, and the lawsuit seeks to address the disappointment and inconvenience caused to fans.
