But he hopes a return to Europe, on the track where Jenson Button gave BAR their first-ever pole position last year, will herald better results.

He said: “I am excited to be returning to the European races after we had good performance in Bahrain and at our recent tests.

“We hope that the team’s hard work carried out during the recent tests pays off for us in Imola, where we will have a new aero upgrade and engine.

“Racing in Imola will be very different from the first three races where we had very hot temperatures and different track characteristics, so I am really looking forward to it.”