Former Formula One Marussia test driver Spanish Maria de Villota (Right) arrives to give a press conference in Madrid. (Photo: Getty Images)

Sister Thought De Villota Had Died In Marussia Crash: Maria de Villota's sister has revealed she thought the former Marussia test driver had died in her Formula One test crash earlier this year.Spaniard de Villota has this week given her first interview since recovering from the Duxford straightline testing crash that cost her an eye.She told Hola! magazine that she will probably endure "years" of headaches and has lost her sense of taste and smell. Sister Isabel revealed that she was the first to arrive at the crash scene after de Villota's helmet struck a transporter's loading ramp. "I tried to pull the car from underneath (the transporter) and started screaming, which is when the mechanics came. "They separated me from the car and no longer let me return to where Maria was. I kept asking 'Is she dead?' and they told me they didn't know. "I threw myself down on the track and began to pray, and after the agonizing minutes when she was unconscious, someone said 'She's moving'. "I just thought 'Thank god,'" added Isabel.

Maldonado Hopes To Keep Williams Seat: Pastor Maldonado has revealed he wants to stay at Williams in 2013. With his PDVSA backing and Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez freshly re-elected, the Barcelona winner's place at the great British team was considered firmly secure. But he surprised the paddock in Japan last weekend by admitting he might switch teams for 2013.
Maldonado said in Korea on Thursday: "To be honest I really want to stay with Williams. "I have good confidence with them but at the moment there is not confirmation. So (I'm) looking forward to seeing that but otherwise looking forward to remaining in Formula One for sure," he added.

Kobayashi Could Lose Seat Over Sponsorship: Kamui Kobayashi has admitted he could lose his Formula One seat due to a lack of sponsorship. Sauber is yet to name its 2013 driver lineup, but Japanese Kobayashi was considered likely to stay because his current teammate, Sergio Perez, is heading to McLaren. Kobayashi also boosted his chances with an impressive podium at Suzuka last Sunday. But he admitted in Korea on Thursday: "At the moment I have no sponsors to be here. It's a very strange feeling. "Getting a sponsor is very important for the future," he is quoted by Sapa-AFP news agency. Kobayashi admitted that having to find sponsorship in order to stay in Formula One is a frustrating task for an established driver. Driving and thinking about the car is the driver's job, but now we have to think about sponsors. It's not what a driver should have to do," he said. The 26-year-old said even his breakthrough podium on home turf in Japan last weekend has not opened the sponsorship floodgates.

Hamilton Might Stop Using Twitter: Lewis Hamilton has admitted he might stop using the popular social media service Twitter. The McLaren driver has come unstuck with his 'Tweets' this year; infamously publishing secret team telemetry and, most recently, accusing teammate Jenson Button of disrespect by 'unfollowing' him. However, it turned out Button never followed the 2008 world champion, and Hamilton has not issued a single 'Tweet' ever since. "I think in my life I am going to make lots of mistakes and that was one of them," he said in Korea on Thursday. "But you learn from your mistakes and maybe Twitter is not the one for me." Button was also asked about Hamilton's Twitter problems on Thursday, and was forced to explain why he follows active drivers like Pedro de la Rosa, Paul di Resta and Mark Webber, but not his own teammate. "There are millions of people to follow on Twitter," he told reporters. "I see him (Hamilton) every weekend."