Nico Hulkenberg on Thursday sounded upbeat about a major upgrade package introduced by Force India for the Spanish Grand Prix.

Germany's Auto Motor und Sport said that the Silverstone-based team have taken "practically a new car" to Barcelona, featuring new wings, floor, sidepods, engine cover and brake ducts for an up to half-second-per-lap boost.

"The car looks considerably more like a race car. You can see it with the naked eye," German Hulkenberg said.

"What we have now looks significantly closer to what the competition has."

Practice for this weekend's race gets underway this morning.