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MONZA, Italy - Red Bull's Formula 1 champion Sebastian Vettel has tried to play down his chances of winning the Italian GP but McLaren rival Jenson Button was having none of that.
"It is not one of the circuits we really prefer, from a layout point of view," Vettel told reporters at Monza. "A lot of straights, no real high-speed corners. We struggled in the past here. The last two years we were not as competitive as we would like to be... I think we are not the clear favourites for this weekend."
MONZA SPEED
Vettel's team boss Christian Horner has also pointed out that Red Bull had yet to finish on a Monza podium although sister team Toro Rosso won with the Vettel in 2008, and described the circuit as probably its weakest.
Button, second for the last two years at Monza with McLaren and Brawn in his 2009 title-winning season, was more sceptical.
Ferrari, with Spain's Fernando Alonso, won its home race in 2011 from pole but the Briton suspected Red Bull would be more the cars to watch this time.
"Our main competitors will not be the same as in 2010," Button told Reuters, mindful that Red Bull had been on pole position in all 12 races so far this season. "You would say the Red Bulls are very strong at circuits where you don't expect them to be strong. They are going to be tough to beat here..
"It's not their easiest circuit but Spa (August 2011's Belgian GP) was never their best circuit either and they won 1-2. They are going to be competitive here."
Stay with Wheels24 for the F1 weekend.
"It is not one of the circuits we really prefer, from a layout point of view," Vettel told reporters at Monza. "A lot of straights, no real high-speed corners. We struggled in the past here. The last two years we were not as competitive as we would like to be... I think we are not the clear favourites for this weekend."
MONZA SPEED
Vettel's team boss Christian Horner has also pointed out that Red Bull had yet to finish on a Monza podium although sister team Toro Rosso won with the Vettel in 2008, and described the circuit as probably its weakest.
Button, second for the last two years at Monza with McLaren and Brawn in his 2009 title-winning season, was more sceptical.
Ferrari, with Spain's Fernando Alonso, won its home race in 2011 from pole but the Briton suspected Red Bull would be more the cars to watch this time.
"Our main competitors will not be the same as in 2010," Button told Reuters, mindful that Red Bull had been on pole position in all 12 races so far this season. "You would say the Red Bulls are very strong at circuits where you don't expect them to be strong. They are going to be tough to beat here..
"It's not their easiest circuit but Spa (August 2011's Belgian GP) was never their best circuit either and they won 1-2. They are going to be competitive here."
Stay with Wheels24 for the F1 weekend.