Adrian Sutil reckons Force India could move away from the bottom of the grid in 2009, after their partnership with McLaren.

Force India announced at the end of last year that they had signed a support deal with McLaren that would see the latter provide them with gearboxes, KERS, Mercedes engines and technical help.

One person who is looking forward to the partnership is Force India driver Sutil, who believes it could see his team bag a few points in this year's championship.

"I think it will be a great help and a big step," Sutil told his team's official website. "Maybe we can really go into the top 10 and finish a few races in the points.

"That would be a good step for next year. I'm confident."

As for himself, Sutil believes the new regulations in his his third season in Formula One should see him emerge as a better and stronger driver.

"I think with the new regulations I had to adapt my driving style," he added. "Last year I was doing really well in qualifying, my laps were always quite strong.

"This year it was a new situation, without traction control, and it took a little while. But now I'm on the same level as last year, or a little bit stronger.

"I'm more experienced now, and I had a very good team-mate in Giancarlo (Fisichella), and I could learn quite a lot from him, with all the data.

"This was good, and also mentally I'm much better now. After two years of F1 you feel better, your self confidence is higher."