Dr. Pierre Ranger said after the operation last night: "It will be six to 12 weeks before he is walking again." But he added that it will take a while to get back into shape: "I would say it's between two to four months to heal those fractures and get in shape."

Williams' test-driver Boullion and Collard are drivers mentioned as Panis' replacement. Collard seems to have the best opportunity, he will join the Prost team for a test session later this week.

The Canadian track doctors have denied the fact that track officials have reacted badly because they pulled Panis out of his car. Head doctor Jacques Bouchard said: "Certainly, the track officials had not done the standard procedure, but they did not have any other choice." His assistant doctor added: "He had to be helped because he was trying to get out of the car himself. He would have fallen on the floor."

A Prost spokesman said: "He's talking but he's very tired and he's sleeping a lot."

Gerhard Berger will miss more than just this last Grand Prix. He probably will need to have more surgery and a longer recovery period after that then what he had after the last operation.