Haas F1 drew from its NASCAR experience

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Gene Haas' believes that despite the stark contrast between the two categories, his outfit's trying experience in NASCAR was a big help to its Formula 1 efforts.

Haas enters its second year of Grand Prix racing following a maiden season which saw the US team finish 8th in the Constructors standings thanks to 29 championship points scored exclusively by Romain Grosjean.

Haas endured a difficult introduction to motorsport when entered NASCAR racing fifteen years ago, but it used the sum of its trials and errors to its benefit when it stepped up to the big time in 2016.

"Our first year in NASCAR was a really arduous task," remembers Gene Haas.

" We always ran at the back and we did it for like six years straight and we never had much luck. We started in NASCAR in 2002 and the competition for drivers and crew chiefs was intense and we just struggled.

"But everything we learned that we did wrong in NASCAR we avoided in Formula 1, and the most important thing was immediately seeing what works and what doesn’t work.

"We learned that the hard way in NASCAR, so when we went to Formula 1 our focus was not so much on how we did things, but who we did things with."

Haas: our maiden year in F1 'was a success'

With a full year of experience under its belt, Haas would have no doubt found life a bit easier in 2017 but the introduction of new regulations and the challenge they pose has erased any sense of comfort.

"I think it has pluses and minuses. On the plus side, we’re not trying to put the whole pit crew together. We don’t have to worry about getting trucks and other infrastructure. We have all that in place.

"The negative side is that there’s less time to do all these things again and there are a lot of rule changes, so you have to be prepared.

"On the other hand, we have stronger relationships with a lot of our suppliers, so that should make it easier. It’s kind of give and take.

"It’ll be just as challenging as it was last year, but I think with the knowledge we have, we should actually perform a little bit better this year."

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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.