Toro Rosso faster than Red Bull

(GMM) Monza winner Sebastian Vettel has played down his notable performance this week at the wheel of Red Bull's Renault-powered RB4 chassis.

The 21-year-old German won last Sunday's Italian grand prix from pole in the Ferrari-powered STR3; an almost identical car raced by sister team Toro Rosso.

Vettel then travelled to Jerez to test for Red Bull, in order to get used to the team he will switch to for 2009.

He was always among the fastest two runners on both Wednesday and Thursday, despite gearbox and engine problems.

Speaking to the Cologne publication Express, Vettel said of the RB4: "It has potential, but our (Toro Rosso's) car is faster."

Red Bull mogul Dietrich Mateschitz said after Monza that he believes the teams' Adrian Newey-penned chassis is arguably the fastest on the grid at present.

"Our handicap is the Renault engine. We don't have this problem with (Toro Rosso) Ferrari," the billionaire told Austria's Kleine Zeitung.

But Toro Rosso boss Franz Tost rejects suggestions that, given the Italian team's current form, Vettel should be lamenting his call-up to the senior outfit.

"With the many regulation changes that are coming, Toro Rosso cannot keep up.

"With Red Bull he is taking a step forward towards a top team."