Lawsuits are dominating Formula One this month in lieu of actual competition for the top spot of the season. Last week was the trash compactor mess that is Haas/Rich Energy, but this week’s lawsuit features Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo, who is being sued by his former manager, Glen Beavis, for allegedly not paying him his commissions – reported to be approximately $12 million – when he switched from Red Bull to Renault last year.
As usual, when the lawyers get involved, there is the typical reaction and Ricciardo’s lawyer is no different, immediately issuing the statement that Beavis’ lawsuit has “no merit”.
Beavis has brought the lawsuit against both Ricciardo and Whitedunes International Holdings Limited [a British Virgin Islands company wholly owned by Ricciardo], claiming that he had an agreement with Ricciardo to receive a “20% commission on the value of all new deals introduced and which were subsequently concluded”.
Beavis claims he started negotiations on Ricciardo’s behalf with Renault Sport managing director Cyril Abiteboul in mid-2017 and continued working with Ricciardo/Whitedunes until March 2019.
Ricciardo/Whitedunes has until the end of July to file a defense.