Grosjean says a Lotus win is possible if team continues to improve its car

On the back of an encouraging double podium finish for the team in Bahrain, Grosjean is upbeat that the E20 has the potential to triumph this campaign.

"Winter testing showed us the car was very good," the Frenchman said in a video interview on the Lotus website. "In first qualifying in Melbourne it was amazing being third on the grid, but we did not put everything together in the next races as we deserved.

"But we knew we had a good car, and the team is working hard to bring updates to the car because that will be key to the season. We knew we had something in our hands that worked very well, so now we are working hard to make it better in the next races - and if we put everything right then we may win before the end of the season."

Grosjean said the second and third place that Lotus delivered in Bahrain was a big confidence boost to the team and himself - after a disappointing first few races.

"It was a good result and we were all happy to finish second and third. It was the first podium for myself and it was a very good result, which gives me the confidence to get some more in the future."

Speaking about his own troubled start - where he crashed out early in Australia and Malaysia, Grosjean said: "There are ups and downs in motor racing and the start to the season was not as we were expecting. The performance was there and in China/Bahrain we put everything together.

"And we can get some more from what we saw in Bahrain. It is good for the future and we know if we put everything together we can achieve some even better results."

Although some have suggested that Lotus could even be dark horses for the championship, because its car has been quick at every race, Grosjean is remaining cautious about its chances.

"This season will be very tight and this [the title] is not our goal," he said. "For sure you want do to the best, but we are aiming for fourth in the Constructors' Championships. We are looking pretty good but we know there is still some work to do to get everything right and to be world champion.

"And why not in the future? Sure I would like to be part of this experience - and be world champion with this team. We are working hard to achieve that."