Steiner: strategy a differentiator in mid-field battle

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Haas F1 Team boss Guenther Steiner say that strategy is as much a differentiator for mid-field runners as it is for the big teams up front.

Both Romain Grosjean and Kevin Magnussen have clinched 8th place finishes this year for Haas in the first three races of the US outfit's second season in Formula 1.

While Steiner admits that strategy has played a crucial role so far in determining the outcome of races, so have the particular circumstances which have prevailed in some instances.

"For all the teams that are pretty close together, strategy is a differentiator," Steiner told Formula1.com.

" You see that with Ferrari and Mercedes, but also in the midfield sector.

"In China it was the conditions and the safety car. In Bahrain, again the safety car - one virtual and one real.

"So whoever gets it right in these unforeseeable situations is at the front in the end. And there strategy plays a huge part.

"In a normal race with only one pit stop, the race result is, of course, more predictable. But we haven’t had such a ‘simple’ race so far. That is good news."

Scenes from the paddock - Bahrain

Many were hoping that the new-spec cars would reduce the gap between top of the grid and the mid-field.

But to date, a big spread remains and Steiner is afraid that may not change anytime soon.

"The four midfield teams are pretty close together," he says.

"But yes, there is a significant gap to the big three - take the qualifying times, multiply the gap by the number of race laps and there you are.

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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.