Haas' Steiner hails 'amazing' new Ferrari engine

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Haas' team boss Guenther Steiner is highly impressed with its 2017 supply of Ferrari engines, underlining the unit's performance and reliability.

Ferrari put a stamp of its own this week in Barcelona, ending the first pre-season test hot on the hells of arch-rival Mercedes.

But Haas' new VF-17 also enjoyed a solid week of work, thanks in no small part to the reliability of its supplier's new power unit.

"The engine and gearbox here, we had almost a flawless test with the same engine - we never changed engines," enthused Steiner.

"We had twice an electronics problem but it was a software problem, nothing big mechanical. They have done a fantastic job in my opinion.

"To come out here with a new engine, a complete new engine, and be this reliable, it is amazing. If you look at the other ones around, and they are no dummies, they have quite a few issues.

"So from last year to this year [Ferrari] stepped up a lot and it is very good."

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While the US outfit ran with few troubles through its aero and data programmes, Steiner believes it's early days' still to predict any sort of pecking order among the mid-field runners.

"I think we made a step, but how good it is is difficult to say yet," added the Austrian.

"We are pretty happy. We still have some work to do to utilise it, but I think it is more like - we made a good step but have the others made an even a better step? We don't know yet.

"The times are very confusing here. With the tyres it is pretty easy to see what they are doing, but the fuel loads are tricky to find out, or be certain about what is happening.

"In general, we are pretty confident we are in the mid pack. But are we at the top of the midpack or are we at the back?

"I don't know yet. I just hope we are more to the middle of the mid-pack than last year."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.