Red Bull wary of Monza race

Webber and Vettel expecting tough test this weekend

Last updated: 8th September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Red Bull wary of Monza race

Webber: Expects wide field

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Red Bull title hopefuls Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel are both expecting a rough ride during Sunday's Italian Grand Prix.

The Monza circuit is said to be Red Bull's least favoured event with his long straight that suit cars with bigger engines.

With Red Bull's Renault engine 80bhp down on rivals Mercedes - who support McLaren - and Ferrari, the drivers face the race with a degree of anxiety.

And Webber, who trails championship leader Lewis Hamilton by just three points, has even backed Force India - another Mercedes-powered team - to come into the equation over the weekend.

"There are a lot of things that make Monza unique and special, not least the passionate Italian tifosi (fans) who help to give the place a great atmosphere," said Webber.

"I love the way the track threads its way through the park too, and it remains one of the classic races on the F1 calendar.

"Of course it's renowned for its many long straights, that means a lot of heavy braking, so it can be quite hard on the car.

"I think we can still do well at Monza, but we might have a bit more in the way of opposition.

"In addition to Ferrari, McLaren and Renault, Force India could also be in the mix for the top places."

Fighting talk

Team-mate Vettel is in desperate need of a good result after seeing his championship hopes suffer in Belgium 10 days ago.

The German first hit Jenson Button's McLaren, incurring a drive-through penalty for that error, before later suffering a puncture after running over the front wing of Vitantonio Liuzzi's Force India.

Vettel at least has happy memories of Monza as he took his first pole and win in 2008 when with Toro Rosso.

"It's good to be going back," said the 23-year-old, who is currently 31 points behind Hamilton.

"It's a unique circuit with a great history and an unforgettable atmosphere due to the fans.

"But the circuit is one of the most challenging of the season, due to the low downforce levels and high top speeds.

"It includes very long straights where we reach more than 300kph, and there are the famous corners, Parabolica and Lesmo.

"It won't be easy for us, due to those long straights, but I'm sure we will do our best and keep fighting until the end."

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