Juri Vips' dreams of driving in Formula 1 have come crashing down.
Red Bull Racing have officially fired the junior driver after he made a racial slur during a video game live stream.
The 21-year-old was playing first-person shooter Call of Duty: Warzone with fellow Red Bull driver Liam Lawson when he appeared to say the N-word.
Red Bull immediately launched a "full investigation" into the matter as fans condemned his actions via social media, saying he'd "thrown away his F1 career" and that he'd "got a red flag before his first race had even started".
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Well, it turns out they weren't far off in their estimations.
The team released a statement confirming Vips' contract has been torn up.
Red Bull officials said: “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 does not condone any form of racism.”
At the time of the incident, Vips released a statement of his own.
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“I wish to unreservedly apologise for the offensive language used during a live gaming stream earlier today," he wrote.
“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 co-operate with the investigation fully.”
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Prior to his sacking, the Estonian driver was in his third season in Formula 2, sitting in seventh place on the championship ladder.
Vips got an early taste of what it's like to be in the seat of an F1 car back in May when he filled in for Sergio Perez’s during the first practice at the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.
He was tipped to eventually move into F1, but it looks like that is now out of the picture – at least for Red Bull.
Topics: Australia, Formula 1, Red Bull Racing
Max Sherry