The Russian-backed outfit have failed to pick up a point in the opening two races but team boss John Booth is hoping they can gather momentum going to Shanghai.

The team have been working hard at their Banbury base since Sepang and Booth said: "It has been good to have some time to take stock and gather ourselves, ready for the challenge of the next important phase.

"Our objective now is to maintain the momentum, so it has been full steam ahead in terms of our development programme.

"The starting point for that was the significant amount of data we had been able to gather in Melbourne and Sepang and, while the race team have had the chance for some rest during the break, it has been quite the opposite for the technical team back in Banbury.

"We have some aerodynamic and systems refinements for the MR01 in China, ahead of a more substantial upgrade for the start of the European season next month."

Timo Glock has enjoyed the break after a difficult start to 2012 and heads for Shanghai excited about the improvements the team have made in the last couple of weeks.

"It's nice to have had a break as it gave us some time to go through the vast amount of data we got in quite a short space of time with the new car," he said.

"This gives us the opportunity to try some new things for China and, hopefully, continue to take positive steps forward."

Team-mate Charles Pic has been hard at work with Marussia since Sepang and hopes that will pay dividends in Shanghai.

"I've prepared in the simulator as much as I can during the break. I've also spent some time in the factory working with the team and my relationship with the engineers is developing very well," he said.

"The Shanghai circuit is quite challenging and I'm really looking forward to driving it properly for the first time.

"Everyone in the team is pushing really hard to keep moving in a positive direction, so I hope we can show more of the car's potential next weekend."