Force India to miss next test but will be in Melbourne

Force India's car is unlikely to be ready until the third and final session of Formula 1 preseason testing in Barcelona in three weeks.

Force India initially planned to drive in this week's first tests in Jerez in southern Spain, albeit with last year's car, before making a late call to skip it because there was little to learn from doing that.

It also will pass on the second tests from February 19-22, and instead hopes to be ready for the final session from February 26-March 1.

"Although everybody is working toward getting the VJM08 to the next test session in Barcelona, it's more likely the new car will appear at the final Barcelona test," the team said in a statement on Wednesday.

Force India finished sixth in the constructors' championship last year, with German driver Nico Hulkenberg finishing ninth and Mexican Sergio Perez one behind in the drivers' standings.

It secured nine top-six finishes overall: Seven for Hulkenberg and two for Perez, who had the best performance with third place at the Bahrain Grand Prix in April.

They have the same line-up for this year's championship, which begins on March 15 in Melbourne, Australia.