F2 racer Vips handed Red Bull and AlphaTauri reserve duties for Turkish Grand Prix

Up and coming F2 racer Juri Vips will act as Red Bull and AlphaTauri's reserve driver during the 2020 Turkish Grand Prix weekend, Red Bull have announced.

Vips - a member of Red Bull's young driver programme - will be on standby for the two Honda-powered teams as he has completed 300 kilometres in a Formula 1 car, and has therefore been awarded his FIA Superlicence. It was in September that the FIA loosened Superlicence regulations due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Estonian has been called up as neither of Red Bull’s existing reserve drivers, Sebastien Buemi and Sergio Sette Camara, are available this weekend.

Vips, 20, has made eight starts in F2 this season, having stepped in for the injured Sean Gelael, managing a podium at Mugello. This season he was due to race in Super Formula, the series in which Pierre Gasly made his name, but Vips' plans were cut short by the global pandemic.

There’s still the burning question of which drivers will be chosen by Red Bull and AlphaTauri next season, as neither Alex Albon nor Daniil Kvyat have been confirmed by their respective teams. However, Vips isn’t believed to be one of the main contenders to take either seat…

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