Panis Hopes to Fight for the Podium Next Year

Frenchman Olivier Panis is hoping his British American Racing team will be able to fight for podium finishes next season.

The 34-year old, one of the veteran drivers of the Formula One field, will compete in his second season with the Brackley-based outfit in 2002 after a difficult first year. Panis finished in 15th place in the drivers' standings with only five points while BAR was sixth in the Constructors' Championship, behind Honda-powered rivals Jordan.

Panis is hoping for better things next year, and though he still dreams of winning races, the Frenchman admits that realistically BAR aim to fight for a place in the podium.

"I hope so (to win), because I'm in Formula One to win," Panis said in an interview with TF1. "It is always necessary to have faith, but I think we will have a car capable of fighting for podium finishes, which will be very good. I especially hope to be in the points regularly.

"Ferrari will be very very strong," he added. "Williams was very strong in 2001, but we should not forget McLaren. And I hope we will be up there too."