Trulli expects to score from the start

The veteran Italian endured a tough 2010 campaign, bearing the brunt of Lotus's reliability teething troubles. He admitted early in the year that he knew he would have to write the season off and focus on helping Lotus develop for the future.

But with the much more advanced T128 chassis revealed this morning, Trulli is expecting to have a substantially more competitive car for 2011.

"Sitting on the grid in Bahrain this year will feel very different - a different tension," he said.

"Last year we were just aiming to finish the race. This year we'll be aiming to finish in the points. With the package we have, that should be achievable."

Trulli's team-mate Heikki Kovalainen added that he had ramped up his physical preparations over the winter to ensure he was fitter than ever before going into what will be a pivotal season for Lotus.

"The last six weeks have been fantastic for me, doing basic training initially and now shifting up a gear to get the performance levels right," said the Finn. "It's been a great winter and I think I'm the best prepared I've ever been."