We are all human, and as humans, we are allowed to have a guilty pleasure or two. For some, it could be binge-watching a beloved sitcom. Others love to watch high-class racing, as it combines excitement, drama, strategy, and advanced tech. Thanks to the latter, Formula 1 (F1) subscribers can claim money from a recent settlement. Ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria before doing so, and that your claim is filed by the deadline, which is this month. See, guilty pleasures can be more valuable than you think.
This is why Formula 1 subscribers may receive money
Fans of F1 will know that it is the highest class of international single-seater, open-wheel auto racing in the world. The racing is governed by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), and the company hosts racing events across the world, attracting many spectators. According to Nielsen Sports, its global fanbase reached 826.5 million in 2024.
Unfortunately, the beloved sport is amidst a class action lawsuit, specifically against Formula One Digital Media, according to ClassAction.org. F1 reportedly shared subscribers’ personal data with third parties without consent. This violates the federal Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA). The data allegedly identified subscribers as having watched specific videos on F1’s website.
The company denied all wrongdoing, but has agreed to a $5.5 million lawsuit settlement to resolve the allegations.
You must meet the criteria to be deemed eligible
All those seeking to earn some money from this settlement must first meet certain criteria to be deemed eligible class members of the class action lawsuit. This is not unusual, as all other class action lawsuit settlements have eligibility criteria to ensure that fairness, transparency, efficiency, and manageability prevail at the end of the day.
Class members of this settlement will qualify for a cash payment. According to the settlement terms, an equal amount of the total settlement fund will be distributed to class members, and the amount is estimated to be $17. Take note that the actual amount could be higher or lower depending on the total claims filed.
Class members will have received a notice of the settlement. The following subscribers will benefit from the settlement:
- Anyone in the U.S. who had an F1 account between May 1, 2022, and June 24, 2025, and
- Anyone who accessed either Formula1.com, F1.TV.Formula1.com, or any Formula One app to watch pre-recorded videos
All claims must be filed by this month’s deadline
According to ClassAction.org, claim forms must either be submitted online on the settlement website by logging in with a unique ID and PIN, which can be found on the settlement notice, or a PDF form can be downloaded and submitted via mail. The Formula One settlement’s court-approved website can be found at Formula1USVPPASettlement.com.
Ensure that you file your claim before the deadline! If you miss the deadline, then you will miss out on the chance of receiving a cash payment from this settlement. Remember, it’s about more than just the money, it’s also about justice! Class members must file a valid form by the deadline of September 22, 2025. This date is also the deadline for exclusion from this settlement, as well as for any objections.
The Formula 1 class action settlement has a final hearing scheduled on October 30, 2025. The purpose of this hearing is to determine whether the settlement will receive final court approval or not. Should it receive final court approval, class members will start receiving their cash payments as soon as all appeals have been resolved. For more information about this settlement, you can visit Top Class Actions and get informed about how to file a claim. See, having a guilty pleasure is not so bad as some may think!
Disclaimer: You should not submit false or inflated claims under penalty of perjury, as class‑action claim forms historically required declarations signed “under penalty of perjury” to ensure authenticity. Submitting a fraudulent claim not only carries legal exposure—including potential civil and criminal sanctions—but also harms other eligible class members by diluting the available settlement pool.