MOTORSPORT: Ricciardo fights ex-adviser's mega-dollar claim

Daniel Ricciardo is vigorously defending a claim for more than £10million – almost A$17.75 million – by a former adviser involved in the contract under which he switched from Red Bull Racing to Renault this year.

Glenn Beavis is claiming he is owed 20 per cent commission on what carsales.com.au global ambassador Ricciardo is earning from his two-year Renault contract as well as some other monies.

Ricciardo split from Beavis at the start of the season and his commercial affairs are now managed by CAA Sports, a subsidiary of Creative Arts Agency.

Ricciardo has issued a statement regarding the Beavis claim, saying: "There is no substance to Glenn Beavis's claim. It is unfortunate that he has decided to bring this wholly unmeritorious claim which I intend to fully defend in the court process."

In documents lodged with Britain's High Court of Justice, Beavis has claimed that Ricciardo has failed to pay fees in accordance with the commission agreed between them.

Beavis had been associated with Ricciardo since 2012 and featured alongside the Australian seven-time grand prix winner during an episode of F1's Netflix show Drive To Survive that documented Ricciardo's decision-making process on his shock move from RBR to Renault.

According to the papers filed with the court, Beavis began talks with Renault about Ricciardo going there in mid-2017 – a year before the eventual deal came to fruition.

The full details of Ricciardo's contract are redacted in the documents, but Beavis refers to the Renault deal being at "a value very substantially in excess of" what he received at Red Bull.

Based on the £10 million claim equating to 20 per cent commission, Ricciardo's salary for the two years of the Renault contract would appear to be £50 million – almost A$88.7 million.

Beavis claims that Ricciardo wanted to immediately terminate the agreement between the pair last December.

Beavis allegedly asked for time to complete the fine print of the Renault contract.

According to the papers with the court, the contract was not finalised and concluded until March 7 – 10 days before the season-opening Australian GP in Melbourne.

Beavis claims to have continued to provide services to Ricciardo until the agreement was terminated on March 31.

Apart from the driving contract, Beavis is claiming commissions for three other deals done for Ricciardo – two brand ambassador roles and a film appearance.

Beavis says he was informed on April 4 by lawyers representing Ricciardo that no commission was payable in respect of the Renault contract.

A letter on May 30 reiterated the Ricciardo camp's view that Beavis "has no entitlement" to the commissions.

Beavis is claiming interest on the commissions he says he is owed plus a declaration by the court of an entitlement to future payments.

Renault has declined to comment on the dispute.