As Heikki Kovalainen prepares for his FIA fitness test ahead of the Turkish Grand Prix, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes believes the problem that caused his crash in Spain was down to a damaged wheel rim.

Speaking to German newspaper Bild, Norbert Haug, the vice president of Mercedes-Benz motorsport, said a production error could have caused the crash.

"A Formula One rim is very complicated and comprises of several different alloys. Something has apparently gone wrong," he said.

Luckily, Kovalainen escaped without serious injuries but the same could not be said for his car.

Martin Whitmarsh, the team’s chief operating officer, said that the damaged vehicle was taken back to the McLaren Technology Centre for forensic testing.

"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," he explained.

Kovalainen could be racing by tomorrow (Friday) if he passes the fitness test set by the FIA today.

If the medics decide he is not fit to race it is likely that the team’s testing driver, Pedro de la Rosa, is likely to step in.

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