Jordan's Track Talk

Tag: Juri Vips

  • RB terminate Vips contract, but keeps F2 seat…

    Red Bull have terminated the contract of their test and reserve driver, Juri Vips after he used a racist slur during a gaming stream.

    The team suspended Vips last week, pending an investigation when the clip emerged online, but now have announced his contract has been terminated.

    Following its investigation into an online incident involving Juri Vips, Oracle Red Bull Racing has terminated Juri’s contract as its test & reserve driver. The team do not condone any form of racism.

    Red Bull’s statement.

    The 21 year old, is racing for Hitech Grand Prix in Formula 2, for a second year. It is not confirmed at whether Vips will continue as a member of the Red Bull Junior Team.

    Vips had served as Red Bull’s reserve driver at several events in 2020 before taking up the post more permanently for the 2022 season. He competed in one free practice session for the team at Spanish Grand Prix, and it looked like he was set for more appearances this season.

    HiTech have spoken out on Juri Vips, and he will continue to compete with the team in F2 for the remainder of the season, with a chance to ‘redeem himself’.

    I have made a decision for Juri to keep his F2 seat with Hitech for the remainder of the season, a decision we have seriously debated. Allowing him to complete his season with Hitech is an opportunity for him to demonstrate, through his actions, the type of person he is. 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. Hitech GP employs an inclusive work force and has never condoned racism or offensive behaviour in any forms. That said, if we live in a society where no one can make a mistake, then genuinely apologise, have the chance for redemption and learn from it – what does it say about our society? I don’t know why he said what he said. I don’t know why he was streaming and playing COD [Call of Duty] at that time of day. Certainly, there are things which would have been far more beneficial for his career! What I do know is that having his contract terminated by Red Bull as a result of his actions is a crushing experience for him, a deservedly severe punishment. The reality is there will not be unanimous agreement whether that punishment is sufficient, and that is totally understandable.

    Oliver Oakes, HiTech Boss

    Where as, Formula 2 made an announcement after HiTech to see what the team was going to do…

    Following the recent incident involving Juri Vips, F2 would like to reaffirm that the use of racist or discriminatory language cannot be tolerated in any environment. Hitech Grand Prix’s decision today is surprising and not one we would have taken. We will monitor the situation carefully with them to ensure that such behaviour is properly addressed.

    Formula 2’s statement.

  • Juri Vips suspended of all RB team duties

    Red Bull Racing, has suspended reserve and junior driver Juri Vips from all team duties with immediate effect.

    Footage emerged of Juri Vips, on social media using a racist slur whilst streaming on Twitch.

    Red Bull Racing has suspended junior driver Juri Vips from all team duties with immediate effect, pending a full investigation into the incident. As an organisation we condemn abuse of any kind and have a zero-tolerance policy to racist language or behaviour within our organisation.

    Red Bull issued the above statement on social media.

    Vips has been apart of the Red Bull junior team since 2018, and drove for the Formula 1 team during FP1 at the Spanish Grand Prix. As well as this, he has represented the team at two end of season tests in Abu Dhabi.

    I wish to unreservedly apologise for the offensive language used during a live gaming stream earlier today. 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 wish to set. I will cooperate with the investigation fully.

    Juri Vips statement on social media.

    Vips is set to race next at the British Grand Prix in just over a weeks time, for HiTech Grand Prix in Formula 2, who have yet to issue their own statement on the matter.

  • F2 Baku- Day 1

    F2 Baku- Day 1

    Free Practice-

    Juri Vips was the fastest man in the free practice session today, he set a 1:55.924 to end practice ahead of Lawson and teammate Marcus Armstrong.

    Strong winds kept the trees that line the circuit blowing as the drivers took to track for their initial laps. A dusty surface meant times were unrepresentative in the early phases of the session.

    Enzo Fittipaldi was the first to have a brush with the wall, the Charouz racing driver nudged the exit wall at Turn 4 but was able to continue without any visible concerns. Clement Novalak found himself facing the wall soon after in the first sector, bringing out the red flag.

    The session was back to green with 20 minutes, but it didn’t stay that way as Boschung’s joy at the top was short-lived as he was the next to find the wall – the Campos Racing man lost the rear end of his car on downshift and spun backwards into the barrier at Turn 5, bringing out the red flags for the second time.

    The full top were- P1: Vips, P2: Lawson, P3: Armstrong, P4: Doohan, P5: Vesti, P6: Daruvala, P7: Drugovich, P8: Boschung, P9: Verschoor and P10: Hauger.

    Qualifying-

    Mr Juri Vips narrowly missed out on pole position last year, but made amends this year as he stormed to P1 in a highly competitive qualifying session in Baku. The HiTech driver had been stuck down in 10th following his opening run, but a surprise burst of pace was enough to put him 0.163s clear of Lawson as Dennis Hauger made it an all Red Bull junior top three.

    As drivers started to back out with 11 minutes remaining, and the flying laps started they was brought to a hault due to Ayumu Iwasa who was determined to push his car to the limits- he carried to much speed into Turn 4 and collided with the barrier – he looked untouchable earlier on in the session as he was sitting comfortably on provisional pole.

    The Japanese driver’s mistake blew the fight for pole wide open as Richard Verschoor and Hauger both clocked in personal bests. But it was the final minute of the session that showed who had mastered the streets of Baku.

    The full top 10 are: P1: Vips, P2: Lawson, P3: Hauger, P4: Armstrong, P5: Drugovich, P6: Verschoor, P7: Sargeant, P8: Daruvala, P9: Vesti and P10: Hughes.

  • Juri Vips gets FP1 outing

    Red Bull junior driver, Juri Vips will be making his Formula 1 race debut when he steps into the cockpit of the RB18 for the first practice session at this weekend’s Spanish Grand Prix.

    The Estonian driver will be behind the wheel of Sergio Perez’s car at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya.

    Vips, who currently competes in Formula 2 and is sat in eighth in the championship has been apart of the Red Bull Junior Team since 2018, and previously drove an F1 car at last year’s post season test in Abu Dhabi.

    The opportunity for Vips is Red Bull fulfilling one of their two mandated young driver sessions for the year.

    My Opinion-

    Ahh Juri! I love this new rule, it gives young drivers the opportunity to get a handle on an F1 car in a free practice session. I could see Juri being a contender for an F1 seat next year, he has said before that Red Bull haven’t said he needs to win the F2 championship, just show you want it, so it will definitely be interesting to see how he does!

    I imagine as Juri is in the Red Bull, we will see Liam Lawson in the Alpha Tauri for the FP1 outing.

  • Vips sticks with HiTech

    Vips sticks with HiTech

    HiTech Grand Prix has revealed that Red Bull junior, Juri Vips will be sticking with them for a second season in F2.

    Vips’ relationship with the team started in 2019 in Formula 3, where he managed to grab a pole, three wins and a further podium- he finished 4th.

    Then in 2020, the Estonian driver made his debut in Formula 2 competing for four rounds with DAMS where he took 16 points and a podium.

    In 2021, he managed to pull a seat full time with HiTech he became the first driver to win twice in a single weekend at Baku- second sprint race and the feature race.

    Juri then managed to score four more podiums throughout the year, he ended his first year in 6th!

    “I’m thrilled to be joining Hitech for another year,” said Vips. “We built a strong relationship in 2021, which enabled me to get to grips with the car and work closely with the team to ensure we gave our very best throughout the season. I’m looking forward to fighting for more victories. Massive thanks to Red Bull for their continuous support.”

    My Opinion–

    Juri’s announcement was the one I was waiting for the most. I felt like last year he had quite a lot of reliability issues and he got quite unlucky mid-way through the season and sometimes that can affect if you come back for another season or not.

    But, with that being said he signed with HiTech which is great! He clearly has faith in the team to stick by them- it will be interesting how well he does this year!