F2 team sticks with Vips after racism scandal

Marko blames 'the English press' for Vips Red Bull exit
30 June 2022 by    1 min read
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Jun.30 - Juri Vips has been thrown a career-saving lifeline by his Formula 2 team.

The 21-year-old Estonian was a Red Bull junior and F1 reserve driver until he was dumped by the energy drink company for uttering the 'N-word' during a live gaming stream.

But his F2 employer, the Silverstone based Hitech team which axed its title sponsorship with Uralkali this year over the Ukraine crisis, is sticking with Vips.

The team issued a statement vowing to provide Vips, who is seventh overall in Formula 2 this season so far, with "the opportunity to redeem himself".

Team boss Oliver Oakes confirmed the news but said the decision was "seriously debated" following the "crushing experience" of his Red Bull contract axe.

"Allowing him to complete his season is an opportunity for him to demonstrate through his actions the type of person he is," he said.

"I have made it clear that I think the language used was totally unacceptable, but I choose to give him the chance to redeem himself.

"If we live in a society where no one can make a mistake, then genuinely apologise and have the chance for redemption and learn from it, what does it say about society?" he added.

The FIA Formula 2 series described Hitech's decision as "surprising and not one we would have taken".

"We will monitor the situation carefully with them to ensure that such behaviour is properly addressed."

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5 F1 Fan comments on “F2 team sticks with Vips after racism scandal”

  2. ReallyOldRacer

    Good decision, a chance back, but the kid is 7th in F2 and his only claim to fame is a F4 championship five years ago. Hardly worth international media coverage, or is it simply the journo's stirring the Sir Lewis pot? Enough about Vips.

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  4. smokey

    This whole issue has been misguided and overplayed from the start. A reprimand with a suspended sentence would have been sufficient, without all the politically correct nonsense that the media orchestrated.

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    • John B

      Hamilton and Wolfe would not allow the reprimand solution to be put in place

      Again the bumholes media make a mountain out of a molehill for sensational breaking news

      It must be great never having said something we regret

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