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Mika Hakkinen has a warning for 'bad boy' Kevin Magnussen

Two-time world champion Mika Hakkinen believes Haas' Kevin Magnussen needs to change his aggressive approach to driving or risk a permanently tainted reputation.

The US outfit has undoubtedly made a step forward this season, thanks to the level of performance of its VF-18.

Magnussen has outpaced team mate Romain Grosjean, putting all of the team's 19 points on the table, but the Dane has also been involved in several on-track spats and near-misses, banging wheels at high speed with Toro Rosso's Pierre Gasly in Baku and moving over carelessly on Sauber's Charles Leclerc in Spain.

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

The stewards took action against Magnussen in the first instance, but the second case did nothing to help his already blistered reputation.

"I have known Kevin for some time, as I knew his father Jan, and it's good to see him producing some great results for Haas," Hakkinen wrote for Unibet.

"I have mixed feelings, however, because while I think it’s important for a driver to show his strength and commitment to the job, there have to be limits to what you are prepared to do in a race.

"In the previous Grand Prix in Baku, I felt his move on Pierre Gasly was a big mistake, and in this business you don’t have to do that very often before you earn a bad reputation."

The chances of Magnussen agreeing to the former McLaren driver's expert opinion are slim, but there's no doubting the 25-year-old needs to rein it in or risk potentially dire consequences the next time his distraction or excessive resolution gets the better of him.

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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.