Haas pondering switching brake suppliers

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In the wake of persistent brake problems which have affected Haas drivers this season, team boss Guenther Steiner says he is now considering switching suppliers.

Haas' brake issues have been recurrent this season and led to several retirements and failures, the last of which occurred last Sunday in Austin when Esteban Gutierrez was forced into retirement after just 16 laps.

Team supplier Brembo has said it would "carefully investigate" the dogging problem, but Steiner confirmed that the team will probably test Carbon Industrie materials sometime in the future.

"We will test other materials, we need to do something,"Steiner said.

" We cannot keep on breaking them as Esteban was in a good position. It's the brakes. Brembo is doing their utmost to help find out, but we need to as well, and do what we need to do for ourselves."

Steiner was unfortunately at a loss to explain the origin of the issue and its persistence.

"I don't know, otherwise we wouldn't have it. Brembo is investigating, let's see if they find something wrong with it. We don't know what it is wrong."

The Haas team boss also lamented the fact that Gutierrez's failure eclipsed Romain Grosjean's run into the points at the US squad's home race in Austin.

"We had a tough Friday and Saturday so it feels pretty good. But it's bittersweet because, again with Esteban, a brake failure, it's nothing to be proud of.

"But Romain getting into the points from 17th is an achievement and we're very happy with it and it shows that everyone didn't give up, they carried on pushing and we got the result for it."

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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.