Trulli started his Formula1 career as a test driver for Benetton, a team he still has ties to, before making his debut at the 1997 Australian Grand Prix with Minardi. He didn't stay a full season with the Italian outfit, however, and finished his first year as a full time Formula1 driver at Prost, as a replacement for the injured Olivier Panis.

He did well enough to accquire a full time drive with Prost in 1998, but his second season (in 1999) with the French team was not a great success. However, in September he managed his best result ever when he finished second at the European Grand Prix.

It was not enough to persuade him to stay with the team and he moved to Jordan full of hope for more regular visits to the podium. It was not to be, unfortunately, as the outfit encountered a number of reliability glitches that kept Trulli out of the spotlight. Despite two impressive qualifying performances, second in Monaco and Belgium, he was not able to better his career best result. Encouragingly though, he was able to match experienced team mate, Heinz-Harald Frentzen.

The Italian is still regarded as a great unfulfilled talent, and is looking forward to proving his supporters right in 2001 with a better placing in the drivers' league and some visits to the podium.