By Biranit Goren, Israel
Atlas F1 Editor in Chief

Four years ago, he had the worst accident by an F1 driver in recent years, breaking both his legs quite badly. Two years ago, he retired from the sport, contemplating a switch to DTM. McLaren's Ron Dennis changed all that, when he offered Olivier Panis a chance to become a test driver for the team and examine, once and for all, just how quick he really is. Now, almost a season full after his return to racing, Panis talks exclusively to Biranit Goren - about the past, the present, and the bright future he's expecting

Olivier Panis has managed to take me off guard. Sitting at the fancy BAR motorhome, running towards the end of our interview, he says nonchalantly that he will continue to drive until he wins the World Championship, that is what he aims for. The amicable Frenchman, who just recently celebrated his 35th birthday, has no qualms whatsoever about saying that either; but realistically, one must admit, the odds are against him.

Nevertheless, the fact that he genuinely believes he's capable of winning it, speaks volumes of the confidence surge Panis had taken from his one year at McLaren as test driver, and after almost a full season alongside former World Champion Jacques Villeneuve as teammates at BAR. If he can be quicker than Mika Hakkinen in one of the best cars of last year, and if he can maintain one of the smallest overall gaps on the grid in qualifying from his own teammate Villeneuve, then who's to say he's not capable of winning the Championship just like them, given the right equipment?

I sat down with Panis for an interview - about the effects of his 1997 accident in Canada, which saw him sidelined with both legs broken; about his work with McLaren; his season so far; and his relationship with BAR and Villeneuve himself - on the eve of the Italian Grand Prix. He too, like everyone else in the paddock, was devastated by the events in New York and Washington but, as we both sat down and forced ourselves to talk about racing, it did not take long for a spark of enthusiasm to light up in his dark eyes. Doubt his WC chances if you will, but don't ever doubt he loves racing. He still gets that rush from just thinking about it, as he says.

Q: Let's talk about your first season back as a driver, after a year as a test driver for McLaren. What was your season like so far?

Panis: "I am very pleased, to be honest, to drive in a BAR Honda this year, but I'm also pleased to have worked with McLaren because they are a really big team and we have a good relationship. McLaren gave me the opportunity to prove my real performance, compared to Mika Hakkinen and David Coulthard, and the fact that everyone could see that was a big help for me to come back to a good team and in a good position."

Q: When you announced your retirement two years ago, did you imagine this is how it will turn out?

Panis: "Quite honestly, yes. I planned that from the start. We talked back, me and my manager Keke Rosberg, about different options, including DTM (German Touring Cars), but I wasn't enthusiastic about that option. I knew I wanted to return to F1 eventually and going to the DTM would probably have meant I'd have stayed there. When the option came to test for McLaren it was perfect for me, because it gave me an opportunity to put to the test just how good I am and how competitive I could still be. So it was good personally for me, but also so I can prove my point and show my ability."

Q: Beforehand, you drove for below-the-middle F1 teams, and suddenly you were driving a WC-winning car in McLaren. Do you think it improved you as a driver? Do you feel the difference this year?

Panis: "I think it did, but mainly mentally, because I don't question myself - I know what I am capable now, given the right machinery. More than that, I know what the 'best car' feels like and what a 'best team' looks like so that helped me a lot, because I can assess better where I stand now and what is lacking. I have a very good teammate, very competitive, and we have quite a few battles. So I know where I am and that we just need a quicker car."

Q: You mention a quicker car; can you tell me which part was the more lacking in your BAR-Honda, the engine or the chassis?

Panis: "Well, it's the entire package really. When I tested the car last year, I was quite impressed because I felt there was a good baseline to work from. Sadly, we're still not quick enough. But I am calm because I have faith in the team. Yes, I know we don't have the best package this moment, but I see everyone working very hard for next year, including Honda who are working on a complete new engine for next year - a complete new philosophy for the engine, I might add - and we have BAR working on the chassis side to improve a lot for next year.

"The bottom line is that I trust the team. I know the people now quite well and I'm happy to work with them and know they are capable of delivering. We just need more time, because this year is not really a good year for us and I myself wasn't very lucky either, you know: six DNFs is too much. But I am optimistic."

Q: The fact that you have Jordan, which has the exact same engine as you, currently tied in the Constructors Championship with your team, do you feel an added pressure to beat them, more than perhaps any other team?

Panis: "No, I don't feel that. We have pressure to fight with the best team. If we want to finish fourth in the Championship this year, then we need to fight with Sauber, not with Jordan. But for me, the target we need to concentrate on is closing the gap with the best team - Ferrari, Williams and McLaren - and not aim lower. We don't need to see just Jordan all the time, you know. From my point of view, the best people to follow are higher up."

Q: You came into a team that was founded to a large extent around your teammate, Jacques Villeneuve, and is run by his personal friend and former manager, Craig Pollock. Do you feel in any way like you are an outsider or that Villeneuve gets a different treatment than you?

Panis: "I knew this when I joined, it was something I had in mind, but to this day I have not felt anything of what you describe myself. I have a very good relationship with Jacques and I know Craig from a few years ago. I have a very good relationship with everyone in the team and you know, BAR-Honda needs two drivers with experience who are competitive to push the team one step up so I've never felt like I was being mistreated, quite the contrary."

Q: You had a very big crash in Canada four years ago. There was a feeling when you came back from your recovery time that the accident somehow affected you - you seemed more cautious. I was wondering if any effects from the crash still remain today?

Panis: "It's completely history for me. I had two legs broken, one quite bad, you know. But I was lucky because eventually I was able to heal completely and regain good physical condition. I don't have any pain at all that by now it's forgotten."

Q: It has become a trend since you tested for McLaren, for drivers to take a year off as test drivers for leading teams in the attempt to resurrect their racing career, as you so successfully did. But no one so far was able to repeat your own success and I was wondering if, in your experience, this is something you would still recommend others to do.

Panis: "Well it worked well for me so I don't know how I could not recommend it. But I have to tell you, when I worked for McLaren Mercedes I kept my focus on the job I was doing for them, and gave my 100%. But what I dreamed about, what pushed me further, is the thought of going back to the race weekend, because the race weekend is the real adrenaline rush - that's the special thing."

Q: You still get that rush? You still get excited when you're on the grid and see the lights go off?

Panis: "Oh, absolutely. All the time. You know, even when I test I keep thinking, 'I have to be quicker today', and all the time I think about racing - that's a feeling unmatched by any other."

Q: Ron Dennis said you were the best test driver he ever worked with. Can you tell me what makes you so good at that?

Panis: "I think it's because I like the technical aspect of the sport. Before I was racing I was a car mechanic, and I still like that. I think I understand quite quickly and very easily what points need to improve in the car, and I'm probably quite helpful with good directions to the engineers. I love doing that kind of work but to be honest, I don't think I'm special even though it's nice to hear that."

Q: Finally, what is your realistic expectation for next year?

Panis: "I will never say before a season begins what I expect because you don't know how the other teams are doing. But One thing I do know, is that we are pushing very hard for next year and I would aim to fight for the third position in the Constructors' Championship."

Q: You seem optimistic...

Panis: "I am, yes. I decided to stay with the team, to continue working with Jacques and with BAR and with Honda. I wouldn't have stayed if I didn't think we can make it. I feel something in this team, a good vibration, and I think next year will be after all a big improvement."

Q: How many more years do you think you will actively race, then?

Panis: "Oh, I am very much still motivated. I don't even think of stopping! I just want to continue driving and win the World Championship, that's all."

Q: The Championship? You're still aiming for that?

Panis: "Oh sure, sure. When I am too old to aim for it, I'll stop driving. But I'm not old and I'm in my best form. So I'll continue pushing to get there."