Helmut Marko says it was the “sh*tstorm” created by the English media that left Pink Bull with no alternative however to axe Juri Vips over a racial slur.
Vips, a Pink Bull junior, was mentioned to be the subsequent in line for a Method 1 promotion however that dream ended for the Estonian when he used a racist slur throughout a gaming stream.
Initially suspended by Pink Bull, Vips later had his check and reserve driver terminated, the Milton Keynes crew saying in an announcement that they “don’t condone any type of racism”.
Vips did maintain onto his Method 2 race seat with Hitech, Christian Horner distancing Pink Bull from that call which he mentioned was “purely the selection of that Method 2 crew they usually have their very own causes for the actions they’ve taken”.
Marko appears guilty the English media for the driving force’s sacking, saying the outcry left Pink Bull with no different possibility.
“The English media unleashed such a sh*tstorm that Pink Bull Racing had no alternative however to take away him from workplace,” the 79-year-old mentioned in an interview with Motorsport.com.
“I personally assume he’s 21 years outdated and has apologised.
“What bothers me is that it occurred throughout a silly online game as a result of they don’t have anything higher to do within the afternoon.
“I don’t perceive how you are able to do that for greater than two minutes, however hey, that’s the youth. I can’t do something with it. Max does it too with sim racing.”
Marko was reminded that Max Verstappen himself had his personal transgression, calling Lance Stroll “a mongoloid” over the radio again in 2020.
The Dutchman’s remark earned the ire of Mongolia’s UN ambassador Lundeg Purevsuren who wrote to Pink Bull to sentence the driving force’s “racist and derogatory” remark.
Marko says the 2 incidents can’t be in contrast.
“You possibly can’t evaluate that,” he mentioned. “It’s also about the complete growth of each as people. Max has all the time been on the sting on this space, and naturally the strain from the media and sponsors at Vips was so nice that we needed to take motion.”
With Vips out of the image, Pink Bull might have one other teenager to step up within the subsequent 16 months as they might be on the lookout for a substitute for Pierre Gasly for 2024.
Subsequent season is the Frenchman’s final 12 months with AlphaTauri with the 26-year-old wanting a step up the grid.
Learn extra: Pink Bull open to Pierre Gasly exit: ‘Yuki Tsunoda already as fast over one lap’
Marko says proper now Method 3 driver Dennis Hauger is the subsequent in line.
“Dennis Hauger has dominated Method 3 in an unbelievable method,” he mentioned. “He now has ups and downs in Method 2, he’s not fixed. Efficiency and nothing else is the deciding issue. That’s changeable.
“Individuals who we thought may do it all of the sudden couldn’t do it anymore and vice versa. That’s the reason it’s troublesome to make predictions.”