Panis wants race seat for 2001

The McLaren team are very impressed with Panis' testing ability. So impressed in fact, that they are keen to hold on to him and are prepared to pay for the privilege.

"I'd be delighted for him to stay," said McLaren boss Ron Dennis, "and we will make it as hard as possible for him to leave. He will get a favourable offer that hopefully he can't afford to walk away from."

Panis became the McLaren test driver after losing his Prost seat at the end of last season, in the hope that it would lead to a full drive with the team. However, with Dennis announcing that David Coulthard would stay on next year alongside Mika Hakkinen, Panis must look elsewhere if he is to return to racing in 2001.

"I love my job in this team," said Panis. "I am a Grand Prix driver. My dream is to drive for McLaren in GPs - but if it's not to be, then I will have to race with another team."

The options for a race seat are becoming ever more restricted as deals are done for next season. The Frenchman will hope that the reputation he has built up for himself at McLaren will be enough to persuade other team bosses he is worth another shot.