Jules Bianchi is convinced Force India will carry the momentum they had at the backend of 2012 into the new season.
Having struggled for consistency early in the year, the Silverstone squad found their groove late in the campaign, to receive solid backing from people who like to bet on F1, as they finished within 17 points off sixth in the Constructors Championship.
The team, who are being backed for big things by bookmakers like Paddy Power, will no doubt set their sights higher this season and Bianchi, who has strongly been tipped for the second race seat alongside Paul di Resta at Force India this year, feels they are on the right track with the VJM06.
"I could feel the progress already," the Frenchman told Autosport. "If you look at last year, when I came here and drove the car for the first time, this year I think we're further ahead. So it's a very good start.
"We are continuing from last year. The car is growing up well and we're moving on, so it's really nice."
Di Resta, who finished 14th with a fourth-place finish in Singapore his best results, also feels the team are in better shape this season.
"Of course you're going to say it was far better than it was, but I think everybody is further up the road," he said.
"I can certainly say we're positive, and we're getting some miles under the car. We are in better shape than we were at this point, but come Melbourne, the goal is to be better and that's what we're set out to achieve.
"But we are not going to predict anything because Formula 1 isn't a natural world to be in."
