Force India plan Bahrain, Spain updates

Last season Force India went all out introducing a B-spec car while this year they are already planning major upgrades for the Bahrain and Spanish races.

Force India put in a solid display in pre-season testing as Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez covered 814 laps while the German even claimed a P1 with his 1:23.110.

But while that left him fourth on the overall timesheets it was a promising sign for Force India, who last season claimed a best-ever P5 in the Constructors' Championship.

Determined to give their drivers the best chance of repeating that feat – or even better – the Silverstone-based team is already planned major upgrades for the VJM09.

Chief operating officer Otmar Szafnauer told Autosport: "Testing was very, very solid for us.

"We made further introductions [of parts] in the second test, which we got some good data out of, and we'll be developing them for both Bahrain and Spain.

"Initially we've some aero upgrades for Bahrain, and then for Spain there will be some suspension and further aero upgrades.

"Right now we are currently revising them so they are more significant when we put them on the car.

"There will be more parts coming, after we see how competitive we are relative to the others, then there will be a point where we switch [focus] to 2017 given the regulation change is huge."