Heikki's return in doubt

Personal doctor urges caution, according to report

Last updated: 2nd May 2008

Heikki's return in doubt

Kovalainen: must past fitness test to race in Turkey

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McLaren driver Heikki Kovalainen could miss the Turkish GP on the advice of his personal doctor.

During last Sunday's Spanish GP, the Finn suffered a huge shunt, which saw him hit a tyre wall head-on while traveling at 140mph.

Kovalainen was knocked unconscious in the accident and kept in hospital overnight as a precautionary measure.

It later emerged that he had suffered nothing more than a concussion with McLaren declaring that he should be fit to race in Turkey on May 11.

However, according to Spanish newspaper Marca, Kovalainen's personal doctor Aki Hintsa believes McLaren may have been premature in announcing that the Finn will race in Turkey.

The recovery time for a concussion varies depending on the severity, however, the fear is that a second knock could result in more serious damage.

Based on that Kovalainen will have to pass a FIA medical test before being cleared to race.

And should he not be allowed to race McLaren will most likely call up Pedro de la Rosa as his replacement.