Lotus team principal Eric Boullier has declared himself "1000%" happier compared to a year ago, but knows there remains room for further improvement.
Of the 12 teams on the grid, Lotus have shown the most dramatic progression this season, accumulating more than double the points after 10 races than they achieved throughout the whole of 2011.
In particular, Lotus are fourth in the constructors' title race a point behind McLaren and 18 adrift of Ferrari as we head into the second part of the campaign.
A delighted Boullier said: "It's very, very tight and we've built a gap over the fifth-placed team (54 points to Mercedes), however we are hungry for success and we want more.
"If we can keep bringing the developments and updates we have been planning and make them work on track we should be able to defend our current position.
"On paper I would say with the experience we have learnt from the first 10 races, we should be able to score more points in the second half of the year."
Although neither Kimi Raikkonen nor team-mate Romain Grosjean has yet won this season, Boullier has no complaints with his drivers, even if the latter has been erratic at times.
"I don't see much of a downside to Kimi to be honest," added Boullier.
"He came back to his speed level very quickly and I would not be surprised if he wins very soon.
"Romain is still building himself up. Even if he did seven races a couple of years ago, he never had a real chance to blossom, so for me he is still very much in his first year.
"He is making mistakes, of course, because he is a youngster, but the good news is he never repeats a mistake.
"He is learning, listening and getting stronger with every race."
Asked as to how much happier he is at the halfway mark of the season compared to this time last year, the Frenchman replied: "Significantly. If I had to take a number, let's say 1000%"
But there remain flaws, notably in qualifying as Raikkonen has so far failed to start in the top three, whilst Grosjean has been no better than third on two occasions.
"Going forwards, it's clear what we need to do for better results," said Boullier.
"Anyone who watches Formula One can tell us this. We need to do better in qualifying.
"If we want to win the races we have to be top four or five on the grid."
