Growing maturity to thank for Haas' good performance - Steiner

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Haas F1 Team boss Guenther Steiner believes that the US outfit's first ever double-points finish in Monaco last Sunday is the logical result of a team which is growing.

While Romain Grosjean consistently raced in the top-10 last weekend, team mate Kevin Magnussen had to hustle his way into the points after suffering a puncture early on.

Haas has scored points in four of the last six races as it ramps up its consistency, and Steiner believes the good performance is a sign of even better things to come.

"Everybody executed. We never lost our cool. We always stayed on top of it," said the Austrian.

"We got unlucky, but then we got lucky again at the end, so we’re fine. We’re maturing.

"It takes time to mature and I think, now, we see some results. There will still be ups and downs, but we’re always making steps.

"Sometimes you don’t see them because we’re not in the points, so nobody realizes, but the team has not just made a magic step today. We’ve made improvements over the last six months."

Haas rewarded with first double-points finish

Haas is immersed in F1's very tight mid-field battle. But while the team hones its ambitions and works to improve, Steiner won't let it get ahead of its reasonable expectations.

"You never give up, but it looks like Force India were in the right place at the right time a few times this year and always with two cars," he added.

"It could turn, and here it turned for them, they didn't score in Monaco and a few like this it will go pretty quick backwards.

"But they have a good margin so let's see. If I say we go for fifth it will be a bit greedy. If I can get sixth we will be happy."

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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.