Force India will have a maximum of three days testing with their new F1 car before the start of the season after the team said it would not debut in Spain until today.

“The VJM08 will arrive in Barcelona on Friday morning and the final set up will take place in the garage at the track,” chief operating officer Otmar Szafnauer said in a team interview.

“We are aiming to get out on Friday and the new car will run as much as possible over the weekend.”

F1’s final pre-season test got underway yesterday and ends on Sunday, with cars and freight then being packed for Australia and the first race on March 15.

Force India, who finished sixth overall last year but whose owners have had financial troubles, missed the first test in Jerez.

They took part in the second in Barcelona with Mexican Sergio Perez and Germany’s Nico Hulkenberg driving the 2014 car, because the new one was not ready.

Szafnauer said the new Mercedes-powered car had progressed well and been fired up at the Silverstone factory.

“We have seen a tremendous effort from every department over the last few months to get us to this stage and we’re looking forward to seeing the car take to the track later this week,” he added.

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