Red Bull want Vips to prove he is ‘F1 worthy’

Red Bull junior driver Juri Vips says the target set for him by the Austrian-owned outfit in 2022 is to prove he is worthy of a Formula 1 drive.

The Estonian racer is preparing for his third campaign in Formula 2, remaining with the Hitech team where he claimed two race wins in 2021 on his way to P6 in the final Drivers’ standings.

Red Bull RB18 has been 'given the all-clear'

Teams budgets separated by ‘ $20m’ max

Horner: Race director will receive ‘better support’ after UAE drama

McLaren battle helped ‘sharpen’ Ferrari

Capito admits Williams’ 2021 revival was a surprise

Mercedes: The biggest fuel changes since 2014

Drivers 'have to adapt' to very different 2022 cars

Albon praises no ‘bull, very direct’ Verstappen

Haas VF-22 will look 'a bit different' in testing

Mercedes want to send statement in 2022

Domenicali listens to Vettel’s ‘constructive criticism’

But after going through a phase when the Red Bull Junior Team was looking a bit dry for talent on the verge of Formula 1, now the programme is arguably in its healthiest state yet.

Vips has revealed Red Bull have not given him an order to win the F2 title, like Alfa Romeo boss Fred Vasseur has for Theo Pourchaire.

Instead, he simply has to prove he deserves a chance in Formula 1.

The 21-year-old drove for Red Bull at the 2021 young drivers’ test following the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, a year on from testing the RB16 at the same event.

#F1 post-season testing took place in Abu Dhabi today, and several #F2 stars were in action

Liam LawsonAlphaTauri

Oscar PiastriAlpine

Guanyu ZhouAlfa Romeo

Juri VipsRed Bull

Robert Shwartzman [RAF] Ferrari

Logan SargeantWilliams pic.twitter.com/1wkwq9krdC

— Formula Scout (@FormulaScout) December 14, 2021

“I don’t have a certain set goal from