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Force India to test final part of F1 upgrade in Austria

Force India will continue introducing B-spec parts to its current Formula 1 car, and run the final elements in the post-Austrian GP test before its debut at Silverstone

A switch of windtunnels to Toyota's facility in Cologne and issues with suppliers meant the team chose to have a launch car for Australia and then introduce a heavily-revised model later in the F1 season.

The initial plan was to run the B-spec for the first time in this week's test at the Red Bull Ring, but the team has opted to gradually introduce parts over a number of races since May's Monaco Grand Prix, which has coincided with its improved form.

Nico Hulkenberg's sixth place in the Austrian GP moved the team up to fifth place in the constructors' championship.

"We've been steadily introducing new parts from the [B-spec] car since Monaco," Force India deputy team principal Bob Fernley told AUTOSPORT.

"We have introduced some of the mechanical elements already, they're well-tested now because we wanted to get reliability onto those as well and they've delivered performances that we were looking at.

"At the Austria test we now want to do the aero verification and correlation, so there will be some key bodywork processes to be done."

The plan now is to have two complete B-spec cars ready for the upcoming British Grand Prix at Silverstone, the team's home race.

"We want to have two chassis'; one for each driver so they've both got equal equipment for Silverstone," added Fernley.

"We're on target for everything that we want to do. If anything, we're probably slightly ahead of target because we've brought these components in early.

"The chassis has got to be modified so there's some work there. We've got one new chassis that's in process now, that's just coming through, and another one got to be done."

Esteban Ocon will test for the team on Tuesday with Pascal Wehrlein taking over on Wednesday.

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