Juri Vips will retain his seat in Formula 2 despite being sacked as a Red Bull junior driver in the wake of his use of a racist slur in a video game live stream.
The 21-year-old was first suspended from the junior driver programme after footage emerged of him appearing to use the n-word while gaming with friends. After a short investigation, Red Bull later terminated his contract in a blow to his chances of a future in Formula 1.
But his F2 team, Hitech Grand Prix, has chosen to go another way by giving Vips a second chance following the "crushing experience" of losing his place in the Red Bull programme. "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 society?" said Hitech chief Oliver Oakes.
