Following an investigation into Juri Vips use of a racial slur during a livestream last week, Red Bull has decided to terminate the junior team member’s test and reserve driver contract.
Red Bull issued a statement saying, “Following its investigation into an online incident involving Juri Vips, Oracle Red Bull Racing has terminated Juri’s contract as its test & reserve driver,”
“The team do not condone any form of racism.”
Vips had been a part of the Red Bull junior programme since 2018 and had since driven for the F1 team in the first practice session during the Spanish Grand Prix.
The Formula Two driver’s future career is still up in the air with him due to race at next weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone for the Hitech Grand Prix F2 team.
Hitech has yet to confirm whether or not he will continue racing for the team.
Following the incident, the Estonian driver took to social media to apologise for his actions with a statement saying, “I wish to unreservedly apologise for the offensive language used during a livestream earlier today,”
“The language is entirely unacceptable and does not portray the values and principles that I hold.”
New Zealand driver Liam Lawson is also a member of the Red Bull junior programme but with Vips’ duties now relieved, the Kiwi may be closer to achieving his F1 dream.
Main image: Sky Sports