A high-rolling Formula 1 fan is taking Circuit of The Americas and F1’s parent company to court, claiming they failed to keep him safe during last year’s United States Grand Prix, when his luxury watch allegedly disappeared in a brazen theft.
The civil complaint zeroes in on a Richard Mille timepiece the plaintiff says was stolen during the 2025 race weekend and argues the track and organizers did not provide adequate security. The case drags safety at one of Austin’s marquee events under a bright, unwelcome spotlight.
According to KVUE, the lawsuit names both Circuit of The Americas and Liberty Media as defendants and identifies the stolen piece as a Richard Mille RM 65-01 “LeBron James” model worth about $750,000. The filing asks a court to award up to $1,000,000 in damages tied to the alleged loss.
Local police say the robberies took place during the Oct. 18 to 19, 2025 Grand Prix weekend and believe they were part of a coordinated operation targeting fans wearing high-end watches, reporting FOX7 Austin. One victim realized he had fallen for a diversion scheme, the outlet noted, and detained a woman the next day until officers arrived.
Motorsport reports that officers arrested a 39-year-old woman identified by police as Viviana Garzon-Olarte and later executed a search warrant at a short-term rental in Lago Vista. Investigators say they uncovered an Airbnb reservation for six guests, along with photos and video on the suspect’s phone timestamped Oct. 18, 2025, that law enforcement contends connect the group to the thefts.
How detectives say the scheme worked
Police accounts outline a straightforward but nasty ruse. A woman either stumbles or approaches someone for help, passersby stop to assist, and accomplices then assault the would-be helper and slip a watch from the victim’s wrist, according to PlanetF1. Investigators say similar tactics have shown up at other F1 races, where luxury Richard Mille models have become a favored target.
What the lawsuit alleges
The complaint, as reported by KVUE, accuses COTA and Liberty Media of negligence. The plaintiff argues the defendants failed to provide reasonable security measures that would have prevented the theft and seeks compensation for the value of the watch along with related damages.
Legal stakes for venues
Under Texas premises liability principles, a plaintiff has to show that a property owner or operator owed visitors a duty to protect them, and that the owner breached that duty by not taking reasonable steps to guard against foreseeable harms, according to FindLaw. Whether a negligence case like this gets traction often turns on what the complaint can establish about how predictable the crime was and what security policies were actually in place.
What is next
The lawsuit is in its early stages and will move through preliminary legal procedures before any discussion of damages. Key filing deadlines should appear on the court docket as the case progresses. On the criminal side, Austin police say the investigation into the 2025 incidents is still active, and officers have previously highlighted arrests and search warrants related to the alleged theft ring, per FOX7 Austin.
