Mclaren's Finn Heikki Kovalainen may not be able to race in the Turkish grand prix, due to the concussion he suffered in the Spanish grand prix, the previous week. Kovalainen had a tyre failure which caused him to miss the turn and hit the tyre wall, head on, while he was driving with 140 mph. Kovalainen's accident was hard, as he was knocked unconscious and was kept in the hospital for the night as a precaution.

The Mclaren team may have stated that Kovalainen will race in the Turkish grand prix, but his personal doctor, Aki Hintsa has a different opinion. According to doctors, a second knock may lead to irreplaceable brain damage or even death. Kovalainen will have to pass a FIA's medical test on Tuesday, in order to race in the Turkish grand prix. If the Finn fails, McLaren is likely to replace him in Istambul, with Pedro de la Rosa.