32-year-old, Oliver Panis speaking at the teams launch last week, admitted that he had raced with a dark cloud hanging over him. Doctors had informed the French driver that a crash could have possibly ended his career last season, due to the accident he suffered during the Canadian Grand Prix in 1997. The result of the crash left him with 2 broken legs.

Panis had plates inserted into his legs, which have now been removed.

"Now I feel it is much better. I've had them taken out and I feel as if I have my 1997 legs back again on duty. I am 100 percent fit now. It has lifted a dark cloud that was in my head all the way through 1998.

"I never felt totally at ease and they told me it was a risk, that if I had another blow at any time last season it would end my career."