Formula One news

McLaren confident on Kovalainen

McLaren team boss Martin Whitmarsh is confident that Heikki Kovalainen will be fit enough and pass all mandatory health test to allow him to return to the cockpit for this weekend's Turkish Grand Prix.

"Heikki is fighting fit," Whitmarsh insisted. "Our team doctor has kept an eye on him during the week both in Spain and then at the Kuortane Sports Institute in Finland and there has been no development of any secondary symptoms so everything is positive on that front. Before traveling to Istanbul, we will organise a full neurological examination for Heikki with our specialists in Finland as a matter of course. He will then have the mandatory FIA evaluation on Thursday at the circuit, which is a routine neuro and physiological test completed after any concussion. Of course we have a plan in place should the FIA request Heikki sits this race out, as at all Grands Prix, but we have a race driver who is naturally impatient to get back out there and this is the aim of the team."

"On the car front, Heikki's car from Spain was transferred back to the McLaren Technology Centre arriving lunchtime on the Monday following the race," he added. "Every part was immediately quarantined whilst the forensic analysis into the cause of the incident is completed. This is usual practice and some components may be salvaged in due course. In the meantime, the spare chassis that was in Spain is in the process of being built into a complete MP4-23, which Heikki will race, all being well, in Turkey."

"Some of this work took place in Spain, some back at base and some more in Turkey," Whitmarsh continued. "Istanbul is a very challenging location for the team, as it is not a traditional European race or a flyaway. The majority of the equipment travels to the event by ship, taking much longer to get there and, naturally, to come back. The race team equipment, including the cars departed for Turkey directly from Spain, this includes the spare chassis just mentioned. A new spare chassis will be sent to Turkey directly from the McLaren Technology Centre."

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