This panel class gets focus. On the other hand default panel control tries to get away from focus. This code is taken from Hans Passant from stackoverlfow

FocusablePanel.cs

//This panel will get focus as the original .NET panel always tries to get away from focus
    public class FocusablePanel : Panel
    {
        public FocusablePanel() 
        {
            this.SetStyle(ControlStyles.Selectable, true);
            this.TabStop = true;
        }


        protected override void OnMouseDown(MouseEventArgs e) 
        {
            this.Focus();
            base.OnMouseDown(e);
        }

        
        protected override bool IsInputKey(Keys keyData) 
        {
            if (keyData == Keys.Up || keyData == Keys.Down) return true;
            if (keyData == Keys.Left || keyData == Keys.Right) return true;
            return base.IsInputKey(keyData);
        }


        protected override void OnEnter(EventArgs e) 
        {
            this.Invalidate();
            base.OnEnter(e);
        }


        protected override void OnLeave(EventArgs e) 
        {
            this.Invalidate();
            base.OnLeave(e);
        }
        

        protected override void OnPaint(PaintEventArgs pe) 
        {
            base.OnPaint(pe);
            if (this.Focused) 
            {
                var rc = this.ClientRectangle;
                rc.Inflate(-2, -2);
                ControlPaint.DrawFocusRectangle(pe.Graphics, rc);
            }
        }
    }