Manager Panis happy with Pic so far

Olivier Panis is happy with the early progress of French rookie Charles Pic’s 2012 season.

Panis, the 1996 Monaco grand prix winner and veteran of over 150 formula one races, now manages the career of 22-year-old Pic on behalf of the Lagardere group.

"I had the chance to talk with Ron Dennis on the grid," the former Toyota racer and McLaren test driver Panis told RMC, "as he had come to see him (Pic).

"It shows that nobody is indifferent to what he is doing so far."

Panis, 45, revealed that Pic is also spending "a lot of time" in McLaren’s driver simulator, thanks to the technical agreement between Marussia and McLaren.

"He is building an image slowly, which is positive. He has earned the respect of the paddock, and now we have to continue," Panis added.