Red Bull junior Juri Vips has been suspended from all team duties with immediate effect after using a racial slur online.
The Red Bull supported Formula 2 driver was heard using the N-word on Twitch during a live stream of a video game on Tuesday, which prompted an immediate reaction from Red Bull Racing.
"Red Bull Racing has suspended junior driver Juri Vips from all team duties with immediate effect, pending a full investigation into the incident," the team said.
"As an organisation we condemn abuse of any kind and have a zero-tolerance policy to racist language or behaviour within our organisation."
In the wake of the sanction, Vips took to Instagram to apologise "unreservedly" for the abusive language.
"I wish to unreservedly apologise for the offensive language used during a live gaming stream earlier today," stated the 21-year-old Estonian.
"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."
— Oracle Red Bull Racing (@redbullracing) June 21, 2022
A member of the Red Bull junior program since 2018, Vips graduated to the FIA Formula 2 Championship from Formula 3 in 2020. He currently still races in the series for Hitech Grand Prix.
Vips was assigned a reserve role with Red Bull Racing and Scuderia AlphaTauri, and took part in his first F1 official practice session with RBR at this year's Spanish Grand Prix.
Hitech has yet to confirm whether Vips will race in the British Grand Prix F2 support round scheduled at Silverstone next week.
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