Red Bull terminates Juri Vips’ contract after racial slur investigation concludes

Red Bull terminates Juri Vips’ contract after racial slur investigation concludes

Juri Vips

Juri Vips, a reserve driver for Red Bull Racing, was caught on camera shouting racial slurs while streaming a video game live. Red Bull immediately suspended him while the company conducted a comprehensive inspection. Red Bull tweeted that Vips’ agreement has been cancelled, ending his four-year affiliation with the Austria-based racing team, prior to this weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

“Following its investigation into an online incident involving Juri Vips, Oracle Red Bull Racing has terminated Juri’s contract as its test and reserve driver. The team do not condone any form of racism,” read the official statement issued by Red Bull Racing.

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Red Bull won’t be standing beside any form of racism

Red Bull former reserve driver Juri Vips
Red Bull former reserve driver Juri Vips

In addition to his responsibilities as Red Bull’s test and reserve driver, Vips began competing in Formula 2 in 2020 after joining the company’s junior programme in 2018. The Estonian frequently assisted Red Bull with simulator testing, and earlier this year, at the Spanish Grand Prix, he participated in his first F1 racing weekend while filling in for Sergio Perez during the practice session.

Vips released a statement immediately after the incident and his revocation: “This language is entirely unacceptable and does not portray the values and principles that I hold. I deeply regret my actions and this is not the example I with to set. I will cooperate with the investigation fully.”

The announcement of Vips’ resignation from Red Bull coincides with a number of F1 teams publicly endorsing Lewis Hamilton, a 7-time world champion who was the target of a derogatory word from 3-time F1 World Champion Nelson Piquet. Hamilton declared that the “time has come for action” to address racism, while F1 and the FIA condemned Piquet’s remarks.

Also Read: “Condemnation needs to be swift and absolute” : Will Buxton urges for urgent stricture on Nelson Piquet’s racist remarks on Lewis Hamilton

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