“black dick”. Those two bad words Juri Vips he said while playing a video game on Twitch he condemned his chances of making the switch to Formula 1, even though he was a reserve driver for Red Bull in the top flight. However, one team took pity on him and will allow him to finish the championship to give him a second chance.

“I have decided that Juri will keep his F2 place with Hitech for the rest of the season, a decision we have been seriously discussing. Allowing him to complete his season with Hitech is an opportunity for him to show, through his actions, what kind of person he is.“said British team principal Oliver Oakes.

The former pilot clarified that “the language used was totally unacceptable”, but stressed that he had decided to “give him the opportunity to redeem himself”. “I don’t know why he said what he said. I don’t know why he was playing and broadcasting at that time of day. There are certainly things that would have been much more beneficial to his career than him. What I do know is that Red Bull’s termination of the contract due to his actions is an overwhelming experience for him., a deservedly severe punishment. The reality is that there will be no unanimous agreement that that punishment is sufficient, and it is entirely understandable. “

Formula 2 expressed surprise after Hitech decided to keep Vips, stating it’s a decision the championship wouldn’t have made had he been in command of the team. “Following the recent accident involving Juri Vips, F2 wants to reiterate that the use of racist or discriminatory language cannot be tolerated in any environment“They remarked in a statement.” We will closely monitor the situation with them to ensure that this type of behavior is properly addressed, “they warned.

Hitech did not respond. On the contrary, in his Twitter post he stressed that he “employs an inclusive workforce and has never tolerated racism or abusive behavior in any form.” “That said, if we live in a society where no one can make a mistake, truly apologize, have the opportunity to redeem themselves and learn from it, what does this say about society?” He asked.

what happened to the VIPs

It all started about two weeks ago, when the man born in Estonia 22 years ago (which will be August 10) played Call of Duty: Warzone. “Fucking black,” the Estonian blurted out. His unpleasant phrase immediately went viral on social networkswhich led the Red Bull team to make a first decision: to suspend the junior driver from all his duties in the team “with immediate effect”, pending “an in-depth investigation” which concluded on Tuesday.

On Tuesday, in a brief statement posted on social media, the Austrian team determined that “following an investigation into an online incident involving Juri Vips, Oracle Red Bull Racing terminated Juri’s contract as a test and reserve driver. “. “The team does not condone any form of racism”he highlighted.

Vips has been part of the Red Bull young talent program since 2018, after having dedicated himself to karting and having been champion of the ADAC Formula 4 in Germany a year earlier. The team then put him into Formula 3, where he won seven races between the 2018 and 2019 championships before being promoted to Formula 2, the opening act of F1.

There, in 2021, he had won twice and had played 43 races. But he ended up, at least with Red Bull, where he was also reserve driver and simulator for Alpha Tauri and Red Bull. Also this year he drove Red Bull in the first free practice of the 2022 Spanish Grand Prix, with the car of Sergio Checo Pérez.

After the suspension of Red Bull in the first instance, Vips had put in their networks: “I apologize unreservedly for the offensive language. used during a live match broadcast earlier today. This language is totally unacceptable and does not portray the values ​​and principles I hold. “I am deeply sorry for my actions and this is not the example I want to set. I will cooperate fully with the investigation. “

But that wasn’t enough. And the measure of Red Bull took place on the same day that the International Automobile Federation (FIA), Formula 1 and Mercedes Benz repudiated that a three-time champion like Nelson Piquet, the father of Kelly, current partner of Max Verstappen told him “black” at seven-time champion Lewis Hamilton. However, another team gave Vips another chance.