The Las Vegas Grand Prix and Formula 1's parent company are reportedly set to pay millions of pounds to compensate fans affected by the loose drain cover incident that disrupted the inaugural 2023 event. The mishap became one of the most talked-about episodes of the race weekend, overshadowing the on-track action and prompting widespread criticism from drivers, teams and spectators over how the situation was handled.

The trouble began during the first practice session, when then-Ferrari driver Carlos Sainz struck a drain cover on the Las Vegas Strip circuit, causing serious damage to his car's floor and energy store; the same issue also damaged the car of then-Alpine driver Esteban Ocon. The session was red-flagged as a result, leading to lengthy delays that left ticket-holding fans waiting for hours, with many unable to see the action they had paid for. The reported payout is aimed at addressing the fallout from that disruption, though full details of the settlement figure and its distribution had not been confirmed in the article.