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Grosjean has found a key, and Steiner hopes he doesn't lose it!

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Romain Grosjean is back on his game after a difficult period of under-performance that put his future at Haas into jeopardy, and team boss Guenther Steiner is happy with his driver's turnaround.

The Frenchman endured a pointless eight-race run marked by mistakes and inconsistent performances, but the 32-year-old has stabilized his form and subsequently improved his results, scoring six top-10 finishes in seven races, although he was disqualified from last Sunday's Italian Grand Prix following a technical infringement by the US outfit.

"I was not very proud of the start of the season, but I knew I would find the key. And now I'm back to normal," Grosjean told Ekstra Bladet.

Haas boss 'considering Ocon for 2019 race seat'

However, Grosjean may not be out of the woods yet with regard to 2019. Haas is believed to have extended Kevin Magnussen's deal for next season, but rumors are still associating several names - like Esteban Ocon - with the team's second seat, although team owner Gene Haas is believed to have opposed the eventual hiring of Ferrari protégé Charles Leclerc.

As F1's awaits confirmation of Haas' 2019 line-up, Steiner is happy that Grosjean has found the key to better performances, and hopes he keeps it!

"I hope he doesn't lose it again! I'd better ask him where he puts it in case he loses it again. Maybe we need a red string on it," said Steiner.

"Joking aside, Romain has been racing for a long time and is very experienced. He knows how to handle himself. So if he says that, I hope that it works.

"This is how Romain goes normally. We just need to make sure he does it all of the time and avoids all these fluctuations. There are limits to how many of those you can do.

"But I think he is doing fine right now," Steiner added.

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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.