Magnussen is keeping Haas' excitement in check

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Haas' Kevin Magnussen contained his excitement despite an impressive session on Thursday which saw the Dane achieve the second fastest time of the day.

The US outfit enjoyed a trouble-free and productive day of running, with Magnussen clocking in with 153 laps, the fastest of which was 1m18.360.

While encouraged by the result, Magnussen refrained from expressing any excessive optimism, insisting it was still early days for everyone.

"We have to wait and see. We don’t know what other people can do, or if other people have a lot of fuel in the car," he explained.

"We are not getting excited already. We feel like we have improved our car, and we definitely have improved our car, but so has everyone else.

Gallery: The 2018 Haas VF-18

So we will have to wait until Melbourne to really get a better idea of where we are going to be.

"Then the first couple of races will probably show another picture. Hopefully we can do well, but it is too early to say now."

Romain Grosjean will handle the team's last day in Barcelona, but Magnussen will be heading to Melbourne is well prepared as ever and ready to race!

"I feel personally ready now," Magnussen said.

"After today having done almost two race runs, and lot of miles in the car, I feel like I am at least ready for the race.

"Of course we would love to have more time working on the car before the first race, but then we don’t have that and neither does anybody else.

"So considering everything and the limited running we have had this winter testing, we feel pretty ready."

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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.