The extract was quickly shared and reposted on social networks.
Red Bull Racing's junior driver, Estonian Jüri Vips, dropped the word "nigger", an insulting English term for a black person, Monday during a disputed online game of the video game "Call of Duty: Warzone". with his partner in the stable, the New Zealander Liam Lawson, and broadcast live on the Twitch platform.
On the excerpt shared the next day by Internet users, we distinctly hear the pilot, engaged in Formula 2 this season in the subsidiary Hitech GP, using this term.
“Juri!
“, takes it elsewhere in the wake of Liam Lawson before leaving in a burst of laughter while the virtual shooting continues on the screen.
i screenrecorded it, but it was around 02:26:26 pic.twitter.com/CclSOqERfP
— 🏎 (@ilottofhope) June 21, 2022
The outing did not amuse Red Bull Racing at all.
The latter announced on Tuesday on Twitter that it had “suspended junior pilot Jüri Vips from all duties with immediate effect, pending a full investigation into the incident.
As an organization, we condemn abuse of any kind and have a policy of zero tolerance for racial slurs or behavior that goes against our organization.”
“This language is totally unacceptable”
"I want to apologize unreservedly for the offensive language used during a live stream yesterday (Editor's note: Monday) evening.
This language is totally unacceptable and does not reflect the values and principles that I defend, regretted the interested party on Instagram.
I deeply regret my actions and this is not the example I wish to set.
I will cooperate fully during the investigation.
»
"The comments made by Jüri are offensive and absolutely do not reflect Hitech's values of inclusion", reacted Oliver Oakes, boss of this team, to our colleagues from Motorsport.
During this same live on Twitch, the Estonian also refused to allow his avatar to wear a pink cap during the game.
"It's gay!"
he replied to Lawson.
"Jüri, you can't say that," reacted his partner.
Current seventh in the Formula 2 World Championship, Jüri Vips rubbed shoulders with the world of Formula 1, the premier class, by participating in the free practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix in May.
But this episode risks putting a stop to his ascent.