Olivier Panis

Olivier Panis (born 2 September 1966) is a French former racing driver from Lyon who competed in Formula One from 1994 to 2004, achieving one spectacular Grand Prix victory at the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix—becoming one of only three finishers in a rain-soaked race of attrition—along with four additional podiums across 158 Grand Prix starts for Ligier, Prost, BAR, and Toyota. After dominating karting, Panis advanced through junior formulas and won the 1993 International Formula 3000 Championship, earning a Formula One drive with Ligier for 1994. His breakthrough came at the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix, starting fourteenth on a wet track. Panis timed his tire change to slicks perfectly, passing rivals on Monaco's narrow circuit and outlasting all but two competitors—David Coulthard and Johnny Herbert—in a race where only three of 21 starters finished.

Panis held off Coulthard's late charge to win, giving Ligier their first victory in 15 years (and their last) and marking the first French victory in a French car at Monaco in 66 years. His victory remains one of Formula One's most dramatic wet-weather drives. However, at the 1997 Canadian Grand Prix, Panis suffered a horrific crash that broke both legs, forcing him to miss seven races while Italian Jarno Trulli replaced him. Despite devastating injuries, Panis made a remarkable recovery and continued racing.

He moved to Prost Grand Prix (formerly Ligier) for 1998-1999, then BAR for 2000-2001, and finally Toyota for 2002-2004. In early October 2004, Panis announced his retirement following the Japanese Grand Prix—at age 37, he was Formula One's oldest active driver. His Formula One career comprised 158 starts, one victory, five podiums, and 64 championship points. Beyond statistics, Panis remains beloved in France for his Monaco triumph and for representing French motorsport at Formula One's highest level during an era when French drivers were scarce.

His smooth driving style, technical intelligence, and determination to return from career-threatening injuries earned respect throughout the paddock, establishing him as one of France's most accomplished Formula One drivers despite limited opportunities with truly competitive machinery.