Friday, April 17, 2026

Las Vegas GP, Liberty Media Hit With Lawsuit Amid Dramatic Race Finish

  • Closed, postponed practice session prompts legal action.
  • Teardown of race apparatus likely to extend into the new year.
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Las Vegas Grand Prix finished late Saturday in dramatic fashion, with the dominant Max Verstappen overcoming a collision and a penalty to claim his 16th victory in 17 races. 

And after a deeply troubled beginning to the event, even Verstappen reversed his prior grumbling about the extravagance of the event and ultimately sang its praises. That change of sentiment arrived as the race week drew more than 315,000 spectators and ultimately delivered on its original promise of delivering a visually stunning nighttime spectacle along the Las Vegas Strip — capped with a resumption of the Bellagio fountains that had been turned off and a post-race fireworks show.

“I hope everyone enjoyed it. We definitely did,” Verstappen said. “[I’m] excited to come back here next year and try to do something similar.”

Fallout To Come

Not every fan enjoyed the race, though. The issues with the Thursday night practice that led to an early end to the day’s first practice session and a public closure and postponement of the second session have quickly led to a class-action lawsuit.

Fans with single-day passes were offered a $200 discount at the official race gift shop, but most fans purchased three-day passes, and were not offered those make-goods. The lawsuit filed in Clark County, Nevada, District Court against F1 owner Liberty Media and the Las Vegas Grand Prix alleges those entities failed to take into account fans’ other expenses to attend the event.

“Even if ticket prices are refunded, no offer has been made to reimburse racegoers for other out-of-pocket expenses they incurred with the event cancellation, including transportation, logging, food, merchandise sales, transactions fees, and other such expenses,” the lawsuit reads in part.

F1 said the decision was made strictly in the name of fan safety, adding cancellations at various events “happen” and that “we hope people will understand.”

An official timeline for the breakdown of the lights, grandstands, barriers, and other apparatus for the event has not been established, but estimates are hovering around six to eight weeks. There will be little time for the city to get fully back to normal, though, as come spring, efforts will be back underway in earnest to prepare for the 2024 Las Vegas Grand Prix in F1’s multi-year commitment to the event. 

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Sign up for
The Memo Newsletter

Get the biggest stories and best analysis on the business of sports delivered to your inbox twice every weekday and twice on weekends.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Padres Sale Set to Break MLB Record With $3.9B Deal

The buyer is the cofounder of investment giant Clearlake.

The Lawyer Steering the NIL Era

In the new era of college sports, Darren Heitner is everywhere.
Mike Sherrill

New Jersey World Cup Games Will Have a $150 Train and $80 Bus

New Jersey officials have been adamant about not bearing transit costs.
[US, Mexico & Canada customers only] Feb 4, 2026; Riyadh, SAUDI ARABIA; Byeong Hun An in action during the first round of play at LIV Golf Riyadh at the Riyadh Golf Club.

LIV Golf CEO: League Looking for New Investors

Scott O’Neil admitted LIV will need to raise money moving forward.

Featured Today

blake griffin

Inside Blake Griffin’s Rookie Season at Prime Video

The six-time All-Star was initially hesitant to enter the media space.
Matthew Schaefer/Front Office Sports
April 10, 2026

Matthew Schaefer Has the Hockey World in His Thrall

The teenage Islanders defenseman cannon-balled into the NHL.
April 9, 2026

College Athletes Are Ignoring NCAA Gambling Bans

“We were going to bet regardless,” says one former D-I athlete.
April 8, 2026

Why Did FIFA Do a Deal With an Obscure Prediction Market?

The product is scheduled to launch on Thursday.
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Flacco (16) heads for the locker room after the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 14 game between the Buffalo Bills and the Cincinnati Bengals at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park, N.Y., on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. The Bills overcame a halftime deficit to win 39-34.

Joe Flacco Sounds Alarm on 18-Game Schedule

The veteran QB warns such expansion could hurt the playoffs.
April 16, 2026

Grand Slam Track’s Contentious Bankruptcy Is Over. Now What?

With bankruptcy over, Grand Slam is cleared to try a comeback.
Apr 15, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Bowen Byram (4) clears the puck from the goal with Dallas Stars left wing Adam Erne (73) in pursuit in the third period at KeyBank Center.
April 17, 2026

New-Look NHL Playoffs Set As League Rides Attendance Wave

This year’s playoff field includes several upstarts and fresh storylines.
Sponsored

From Gold Medalist to Business Founder

Allyson Felix on investing in women’s sports and what comes next for track & LA28.
Dec 30, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) shoots against Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic (77) during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
April 16, 2026

NBA Bends 65-Game Awards Rule for Dončić, Cunningham

Anthony Edwards, meanwhile, lost his appeal.
April 16, 2026

LIV Golf’s Future: Three Big Questions If Saudi Funding Dries Up

LIV players could be seeking a return to the PGA Tour.
Apr 15, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) drives past Los Angeles Clippers guard Kris Dunn (8) and guard Darius Garland (10) in the second half during the play-in rounds of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Intuit Dome.
exclusive
April 16, 2026

NBA Is in Talks With Kalshi and Polymarket

Discussions ramped up after the CFTC began engaging with leagues, sources say.
April 16, 2026

NFL Draft Week Brings Tension, Trade Rumors, Pittsburgh Frenzy

Trade talk grows while hotel rooms in Pittsburgh remain historically expensive.