Panis will not replace Hakkinen, claims McLaren.

The McLaren team has forcibly denied rumours that former test driver Olivier Panis will return to Woking in place of Mika Hakkinen next season.

The story first appeared in German motorsport magazine Auto Bild, which claimed that the former world champion would live up to speculation and step down from his seat at McLaren at the end of the season. According to the Germans, he will be succeeded by Frenchman Panis, who is driving for British American Racing this year after impressing during a twelve month stint as test driver for McLaren.

Norbert Haug, sporting director of McLaren's engine partner Mercedes, has denied that there is any truth in the rumour, however.

"As ever in such cases, it is all pure speculation," the German told the BBC

Hakkinen has suffered a combination of bad luck and poor form this season, culminating in another startline retirement at the French Grand Prix ten days ago. Whilst team-mate David Coulthard is understood to have signed an extension to his current contract with McLaren, the team refuses to confirm the belief while it attempts to determine Hakkinen's intentions.

Panis' nomination as Hakkinen's possible replacement adds the Frenchman to a list that already includes current McLaren tester Alex Wurz, former world champion Jacques Villeneuve and aspiring youngsters Nick Heidfeld and Kimi Raikkonen, both at Sauber for 2001.

Villeneuve has already played down speculation that he may jump ship at BAR to join McLaren, however.