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Steiner offers a defense of 'bad boy' Magnussen… again

Haas boss Guenther Steiner has come out once again in defense of Kevin Magnussen following another dangerous maneuver by the Dane in yesterday's second free practice session.

A slow moving Magnussen was apparently oblivious to the presence of a fast approaching Charles Leclerc when he moved over on the Sauber, the Monegasque having to take avoiding action to prevent a nasty run-in with the Haas.

Magnussen is regularly criticized by his peers for his on-track antics, having clashed as recently as two weeks ago in Baku with Toro Rosso's Pierre Gasly.

Magnussen reprimanded for 'potentially dangerous manoeuvre'

"Everyone feels entitled to criticise Kevin at the moment," Steiner told Ekstra Bladet newspaper.

"He went to the stewards who reprimanded him but he did not get a punishment so that explains the situation. There's no need to make more out of it.

"At the moment Kevin is the bad boy, so whenever he does the slightest thing, the stewards call him. But at least he knows the way up there now," he added with a bout of humour.

Steiner believes Magnussen's case is overblown, and the criticism will eventually simply dissipate.

"I think there's a snowball effect. At some point, people will get bored and no one will read about it anymore and drivers will stop complaining.

"I'm very easy about it and don't take it as badly as some others do," he said.

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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.