Red Bull has suspended Formula 2 driver Juri Vips after using racial slurs during a live gaming session.
The 21-year-old has been suspended from performing team duties by the defending world champions while an inquiry into the Estonian and the incident on Tuesday is ongoing.
Until a thorough investigation into the event is complete, the 21-year-old Estonian will not perform any team duties, according to Red Bull.
In a live-streamed game he was playing with Red Bull junior Liam Lawson, he used a racial epithet. On another occasion in the same stream, VIPs also used homophobic slur.
“Red Bull Racing has suspended junior driver Juri Vips from all team duties with immediate effect, pending a full investigation into the incident,” read a statement on Red Bull Racing’s official Twitter account. “As an organisation, we condemn abuse of any kind and have a zero-tolerance policy to racist language or behaviour within our organisation.”
The third-year F2 driver VIPS apologised for his “inappropriate” remarks on his Instagram account.
“I wish to unreservedly apologise for the offensive language used during a live gaming stream earlier today,” Vips said via Instagram.
“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 co-operate with the investigation fully.”
In May, Vips replaced Sergio Perez in the Red Bull RB18 during the opening practice session of the Spanish Grand Prix, making him the first Estonian driver to compete in a Formula 1 race weekend.
Lewis Hamilton is leading F1’s efforts to improve diversity and inclusion in recent years. The seven-time world champion has joined Sebastian Vettel, a four-time champion, in announcing that they will speak out on significant issues after Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the FIA’s new president, questioned whether drivers should make their opinions on such issues public.
