Latest Episode | Cut To The Race Podcast
The Dimopoulos law firm, working alongside JK Legal and Consulting, has filed a class action. They will attempt to claim refunds for the 35,000 spectators who missed Thursday’s events due to a loose manhole cover.
The incident occurred following a manhole cover coming loose, propelling itself into the underside of Carlos Sainz’s Ferrari. This saw Free Practice One stopped, and Free Practice Two was delayed until 02:30. However, no fans were allowed to watch due security and staffing concerns.
LAS VEGAS – The loose manhole cover caused the 1st free practice to be halted prematurely prior to the Las Vegas Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Las Vegas Strip Circuit in Nevada. ANP SEM VAN DER WAL (Photo by ANP via Getty Images)The hunt for a full refund
Despite offering the fans that were disrupted a $200 voucher for the Las Vegas merchandise site, this offering doesn’t seem to have sufficed, with the lead lawyer for the case, Steve Dimopoulos, suggesting the fans “were deprived of the experience” they had paid higher rates than usual to see.
As reported by Autosport, Dimopoulos said:
“We will vindicate the rights of the fans that travelled great distances and paid small fortunes to attend but were deprived of the experience.
“The manhole cover seals that were supposed to surround the manhole cover were installed, worked on and inspected by defendant TAB in the course and scope of their contract to work on the subject track and make the track race-ready.
“The work on the track performed by TAB, including installing the subject failed manhole cover and concrete work sealing the manhole cover, was completed only days before the ‘practice run’ event and the track was not in the race-ready condition at the time of the event.”
The action went on to claim that F1 and/or its contractors had “failed to detect the flaws and/or poor installation of the subject manhole cover sealed by TAB and failed to ensure that the track was race-ready for the ‘practice run’ event”.
Following this, Mr Dimopoulos explained that due to the conditions of the tickets at the point of sale, if the event was cancelled, not rescheduled, spectators would be due a refund up to the original value.
The claim continued, it stated:
“As of the time of this complaint, none of the attendees and/or invitees who purchased the tickets to the ‘practice run’ event, and were deprived of the opportunity to attend the same through no fault of their own, have received and/or were offered any refunds for their tickets.”
2024 tickets now on sale
The claim, asking for $30,000 per spectator, has yet to deter Formula 1 as they announced the release of the tickets for the Las Vegas Grand Prix 2024.
Race with us in 2024! Secure your spot and place your deposit now to access tickets for the #LasVegasGP on November 21-23, 2024. https://t.co/UNjVxgpN3p pic.twitter.com/h8RHFmxXGC
— F1 Las Vegas (@F1LasVegas) November 18, 2023
Following the the current legal battle, the Las Vegas Grand Prix confirmed their priority remains that “Fans have an entertaining experience.”
The Las Vegas Grand Prix said: “We cannot comment on the litigation. Our focus is on ensuring that our fans have an entertaining experience in a safe and secure environment which is always our top priority.”
Featured Image: (Photo by ANP via Getty Images)
