Newey ’has worked hard’ on high-speed weakness

A win at Monza this weekend will prove Red Bull has erased its final lingering weakness.

Two weeks ago at Spa-Francorchamps, amid suggestions the RB7 will struggle for top speed from its Renault engine, Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber duly finished first and second.

But the middle section at the fabled Belgian circuit is suited to Red Bull’s cornering strengths, making the incessant flat-out runs at Monza’s Autodromo Nazionale this week arguably the team’s biggest test yet in 2011.

Vettel’s win in the Adrian Newey-designed Toro Rosso in 2008 aside, the Red Bull cars have usually been vulnerable at Monza to their rivals’ superior engine power.

"That’s why he (Newey) has worked particularly hard on the aerodynamic package for low and medium downforce," team boss Christian Horner is quoted by Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport.

Mercedes-powered McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, however, hopes formula one has heard the last of Red Bull’s pleadings about a lack of pace at high speed.

"I hope we don’t hear any more about the supposedly weak Renault engine," he said.

Agreed Red Bull’s Mark Webber: "We were spoilt with how good the race unfolded in Spa, let’s hope Monza is the same."