Trulli finished 21st in the latest Grand Prix of the season in Canada

Jarno Trulli says he expects his Lotus team will begin to improve their performances after a stuttering start to the Formula 1 season.

The Italian driver has failed to finish above 15th place in the eight races so far this season, with the Norfolk-based team still without a point.

But Trulli told BBC Radio Norfolk: "We're getting stronger and stronger.

"Once the results start coming, people will realise how important Lotus was and how serious Lotus Racing is now."

The former Toyota driver, who joined the side for his 14th season in Formula 1, added that the team's rush last winter to get the car ready for the upcoming season could be the reason behind recent reliability issues.

"I always hope that things go right but you can never be sure, especially with this year's cars. They made a great effort to get it ready but they had to make some compromises which is now hitting us in terms of reliability," he said.

I'm always hit by bad luck and the car keeps breaking down but everybody in the team wants to turn it around Jarno Trulli

"I signed a three-year deal because I strongly believed we were going to go through a hard season but it's basically a preparation season. From next year, we will start being more and more serious.

"My record is pretty bad, I have only seen the chequered flag once. I'm always hit by bad luck and the car keeps breaking down but everybody in the team wants to turn it around.

"Even my mechanics are desperate because it seems like everything is happening to me. But I knew before the beginning of the season that this would be a hard season - this is only preparation for the future."

Lotus returned to Formula 1 in September 2009 after being out of the sport since 1994.

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