Red Bull have retained Juri Vips as part of their Junior Driver Programme, despite having cancelled his contract as test and reserve driver. Vips saw his contract terminated in the build-up to the British Grand Prix after he used a racial slur while streaming a video game on Twitch. Red Bull acted quickly to remove the Estonian from his post as test and reserve driver, replacing him with Liam Lawson. He was also removed from the team's website with his name on the list of young drivers seemingly deleted.
Red Bull will take time to reflect on Vips behaviour
However, it has now been confirmed to RacingNews365.com that the team have retained Vips as part of their junior driver programme and that there will now be "a period of reflection" before any further decision is taken. Red Bull are not alone in persisting with Vips, despite his use of a racial slur. Formula 2 team Hitech GP, with whom he is spending the 2022 season, confirmed that he will remain racing with them. Speaking to PA ahead of the Austrian Grand Prix, Red Bull boss Christian Horner has said: "Everyone deserves a second chance at some point, if they can show that they have learned from their mistakes. "He is a young boy, a young guy and we will continue to support him psychologically and educationally - even if his contract has been cancelled. Hopefully, he learns from this."
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