Trulli set for second season with Lotus

The Italian always viewed his move to Lotus for this season as a long-term project but, like Kovalainen, his contract was only guaranteed for this year.

And although there has been no official confirmation from the team yet about its driver plans for next year, Trulli has indicated that the line-up is set to remain unchanged.

"I should be here like Heikki, and it should be confirmed soon," he told AUTOSPORT. "The team is currently looking after some other stuff - but the announcement should be soon."

With Lotus having signed a deal for a supply of Red Bull Racing gearboxes and transmissions for 2011 to complement its expected Renault engine, Trulli believes that everything is falling in to place for the team to begin fighting for regular points.

"I can say things are shaping up very well," said Trulli. "Definitely compared to last year, it is shaping up in a much better way.

"I can really see we are heading in the right direction. When I joined the team I always said that I knew it was going to be a terrible first season, because I am realistic, and we have had a difficult season as expected.

"So it has been hard, but my mind was always towards 2011 - going through 2010 as quick as possible, getting all the information and preparing everything to have a competitive car, realistically, to fight for the points.

"Eventually we will see, but if we put everything together with the effort, the gearbox and engine, and if we can get a reasonable good aero development, then I think we can fight for the points which will be a great achievement for a very young team. This is my focus at the moment and everybody's topic."