Former finalist Djokovic through to US semisMore Belgian joy as Wickmayer makes semisNorthern Ireland 0-2 Slovakia Thursday, 10, Sep 2009 08:45By Adam Leveridge The Red Bull pairing of Mark Webber and Sebastien Vettel are both looking to get a good result in the final European race of the season at Monza, before heading off to the long-haul destinations. In the last two races in Valencia and Belgium, the Milton Keynes-based squad has been blighted by reliability issues with their Renault engines - Vettel lost two engines over the European grand prix weekend and Webber one at Spa. With just two of his eight allocated engines for the season left, Vettel will be forced to run a relatively limited programme during the Friday and Saturday practice sessions in order to conserve his engines for qualifying and the race, placing the German on the backfoot for the final five races of the season. Despite his troubles Vettel finished third at Spa, behind the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen and the Force India of Giancarlo Fisichella, scoring valuable championship points. Webber on the other hand failed to reach a points-paying position after he was hit by a penalty, but the Aussie is not going to let his recent run of bad luck avert his focus from the task in hand. "Monza is another good challenge. We have got to focus on ourselves and do the best job we can," said Webber. "We can't control Brawn's performances or Force India or whoever's turned it up this week, it's up to us to get the most out of our package and make sure that we do the business in each session and are there for Q3 and in a good position. "That's all we did in the past and that's what we have to do in the future. "It's not the case of 'we have to try harder'. "We're trying very, very hard, it's just that we haven't been as strong as we were in Silverstone, Nurburgring places like that." Webber is anticipating a good atmosphere at Monza and says he hopes to leave Europe with a strong result, to keep his championship charge alive. "My first reaction when I think of Monza is obviously it's very fast," said Webber. "It's a unique circuit, one that requires the cars to have very different downforce levels so the cars move around a lot more in the faster corners. "Generally it's a track where there's a lot of full throttle, a lot of load on the engine and you also needs to get amongst the kerbs there. "It's not a physical track, you just have got to sometimes watch your elbows. "In the past I've had a little bit of problems with my left elbow round there when you're jumping the kerbs, but physically it's one of the easiest tracks on the calendar. "It's always a good atmosphere and it would be good to leave Europe with a good result." Having won last year's Italian grand prix at Monza, Vettel admits his expectations are high for this year's race. "Without a doubt, Monza 2008 is one of my best memories as it was where I scored my first F1 win after taking my very first formula one pole," said Vettel. "It was a perfect weekend and one I will remember always, whatever else I achieve during my career. "Monza is in any case a special appointment on the calendar as you can really feel the history of the place, especially as, just a short walk from the paddock, you can see impressive banked corners of the old oval track. "Things have changed a lot in the space of 12 months. "Although at this point last year, the Toro Rosso car was improving and even if we saw we were competitive even in Friday practice, my pole and win were something of a surprise to everyone. "This year, Red Bull Racing and me and Mark are fighting for the Championship titles, so we are considered front-runners. It doesn't put me under any more pressure, but it does mean that our expectations are higher." Email Print Twitter Facebook MySpace Stumble Digg Share
Thursday, 10, Sep 2009 08:45
By Adam Leveridge
The Red Bull pairing of Mark Webber and Sebastien Vettel are both looking to get a good result in the final European race of the season at Monza, before heading off to the long-haul destinations.
In the last two races in Valencia and Belgium, the Milton Keynes-based squad has been blighted by reliability issues with their Renault engines - Vettel lost two engines over the European grand prix weekend and Webber one at Spa.
With just two of his eight allocated engines for the season left, Vettel will be forced to run a relatively limited programme during the Friday and Saturday practice sessions in order to conserve his engines for qualifying and the race, placing the German on the backfoot for the final five races of the season.
Despite his troubles Vettel finished third at Spa, behind the Ferrari of Kimi Raikkonen and the Force India of Giancarlo Fisichella, scoring valuable championship points.
Webber on the other hand failed to reach a points-paying position after he was hit by a penalty, but the Aussie is not going to let his recent run of bad luck avert his focus from the task in hand.
"Monza is another good challenge. We have got to focus on ourselves and do the best job we can," said Webber.
"We can't control Brawn's performances or Force India or whoever's turned it up this week, it's up to us to get the most out of our package and make sure that we do the business in each session and are there for Q3 and in a good position.
"That's all we did in the past and that's what we have to do in the future.
"It's not the case of 'we have to try harder'.
"We're trying very, very hard, it's just that we haven't been as strong as we were in Silverstone, Nurburgring places like that."
Webber is anticipating a good atmosphere at Monza and says he hopes to leave Europe with a strong result, to keep his championship charge alive.
"My first reaction when I think of Monza is obviously it's very fast," said Webber.
"It's a unique circuit, one that requires the cars to have very different downforce levels so the cars move around a lot more in the faster corners.
"Generally it's a track where there's a lot of full throttle, a lot of load on the engine and you also needs to get amongst the kerbs there.
"It's not a physical track, you just have got to sometimes watch your elbows.
"In the past I've had a little bit of problems with my left elbow round there when you're jumping the kerbs, but physically it's one of the easiest tracks on the calendar.
"It's always a good atmosphere and it would be good to leave Europe with a good result."
Having won last year's Italian grand prix at Monza, Vettel admits his expectations are high for this year's race.
"Without a doubt, Monza 2008 is one of my best memories as it was where I scored my first F1 win after taking my very first formula one pole," said Vettel.
"It was a perfect weekend and one I will remember always, whatever else I achieve during my career.
"Monza is in any case a special appointment on the calendar as you can really feel the history of the place, especially as, just a short walk from the paddock, you can see impressive banked corners of the old oval track.
"Things have changed a lot in the space of 12 months.
"Although at this point last year, the Toro Rosso car was improving and even if we saw we were competitive even in Friday practice, my pole and win were something of a surprise to everyone.
"This year, Red Bull Racing and me and Mark are fighting for the Championship titles, so we are considered front-runners. It doesn't put me under any more pressure, but it does mean that our expectations are higher."
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