Force India head to Barca with 2014 car

There's good and bad news at Force India; they will be at the first Barcelona test but only in last year's VJM07.

The team sat out the opening pre-season test with reports claiming that their lack of a 2015 chassis was down to financial reasons.

Force India had hoped to have the new VJM08 ready in time for Barcelona but conceded that it may only be for the second outing at the Spanish track.

The team has now confirmed that the new car is not yet ready.

Force India, though, will be present at the Circuit de Catalunya on 19 February but using a VJM07.

"We've been pushing to get the new car ready, but the decision was taken that we would run the 2014 at the first Barcelona test so we have a presence there while we push ahead with development of the 2015 car," a team spokesperson told Sky Sports Online.

"The new car is still expected to appear at the final test.

"The factory is very busy at the moment – everyone is pushing on with the manufacture of the parts and the car build process."

The spokesperson added that the team will still be valuable as it will allow for a "tyre programme in terms of data collection there and I imagine there will be some test items as well."