Several names return to the F1 grid this year, Lotus and Cosworth being the two most obvious examples, however, spare a thought for the youngster in the somewhat familiar helmet at the wheel of the Hispania.

It is somewhat ironic, if one is prepared to consider Lotus F1 as a true descendant of Colin Chapman's legendary creation, to see the name of Senna to return to F1 at the same time, given that the British team was to give Ayrton Senna his first win.

Bruno Senna, the youngster of whom Ayrton famously said in 1993; "If you think I'm good, just wait until you see my nephew...", makes his much anticipated F1 debut this weekend, albeit at the wheel of a car that has yet to turn a wheel in serious testing, and he's relishing the prospect.

"It's the start of a dream come true for me," he told reporters in Bahrain ahead of this weekend's season opener. "I have had a pretty tough time so far, starting from the end of 2008 all the way to this year, where things have got there only to be taken away."

He refers to his hopes for his F1 debut with Honda in 2009, which were dashed when the Japanese manufacturer pulled out of the sport in December 2008, then further disappointment when the Ross Brawn led consortium which bought the Brackley outfit opted for the experience of fellow Brazilian, Rubens Barrichello.

"It was starting to go that way this year," he continues, "and it was hard to accept because it's one thing when you do something wrong, if I am not quick enough, if I make a mistake on the track then I lost my chance. It's another thing when everything is outside your control and it veers off in a direction that you just can't recover. I'm very glad to be here and very thankful to be here."

It's hard to beleive that the Hispania team, risen phoenix-like from the cooling embers of the Campos Meta outfit, only unveiled its car a week ago, at the same time as rival teams were already en route to Bahrain.

"We only knew we were going to Bahrain on Saturday when the car was loaded with half an hour to spare," he admits. "It was all last minute and only really came together last week."

With the Dallara not having turned a wheel, the Spanish team will be happy to get through this first weekend - and no doubt Australia and Malaysia - intact, using the three races a glorified test sessions.

"I think the plan is now on Friday to go out, do a shakedown, do an installation lap, back in, see if nothing's catching on fire, see if there are no leaks, then send the other car out and do these things a few times," he reveals.

Asked about fears that the new, slower, teams and drivers, could prove hazardous for the pace-setters - with some saying the disparity could be as much as five seconds a lap, the Brazilian said: This is not too hard to deal with. I've been racing in the Le Mans Series with cars that are from two seconds to 20 seconds a lap quicker. It's perfectly possible to deal with traffic if you are in a faster car. The only thing you need is for the drivers all to respect each other and for sure this will come up in the drivers' briefing tomorrow and we will have to just discuss it."