Steiner: Top three teams 'in a league of their own'

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Haas' Guenther Steiner believes Mercedes, Ferrari and Red Bull are already about 1.5 seconds clear of the rest of the 2017 field!

With just two weeks to go before the lights turn green in Melbourne, the top three teams enjoy a clear edge, according to Steiner, although it's still unclear who will lead the grid in Australia.

The assessment hasn't taken Steiner by surprise, it's only a logical outcome based on power and resources.

"Between the top three and the other ones it is between one second and 1.5 seconds I think," he said.

"It is aero, and we need to work on it. It won't be for Australia. The big teams will always have more resources to do it, and this is to be expected.

"There is no surprise that Mercedes and Ferrari and Red Bull came out better than everybody else. They have more resources to do more testing and that is what it is."

Haas prepping for huge mid-field battle

The Austrian team manager ax-actually believes the gap could grow as a frantic development pace takes hold among the top contenders.

"It will not get smaller in my opinion.

"But maybe the gains further up you get the smaller they get, so the smaller teams can make bigger gains because they are further behind."

Steiner is also watching Williams, which could breakout from the chasing pack and make inroads into the top three's dominance.

"I think the Williams is a little bit better than the big group .... I don't know about the Renault. We need a few more days and in Australia we find out. It's getting quite clear."

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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.