Narain Karthikeyan has struggled this season with HRT. (Photo: AFP/Getty Images)

Karthikeyan Still Hoping For 2013 HRT Seat: Narain Karthikeyan says he is in the running to keep his HRT seat next year. Reports this week suggested the Indian, who returned to F1 with the backmarker Spanish team after establishing a NASCAR career in 2010, could revert to the American racing scene for 2013 and is currently seeking an IndyCar test. But Karthikeyan, 35, said on Friday he actually deserves a better F1 seat. "I would definitely like the possibility since I have clearly proved that I have the speed to deserve a shot higher up the grid," he told the Indian Express, when asked if he would like a Force India seat. "But having said that, I think they have their own plans as always, so for now I am concentrating on finishing this season on a strong note." HRT has said it will retain Pedro de la Rosa next year, but the occupant of the other seat for 2013 is much less clear. "Right now I would like to stay with HRT for 2013 as we can expect more progress with proper infrastructure which has been in place now," the Indian said. "I think it will be decided over the winter once the season is through."

Vettel Could Join Ferrari For 'Challenge' - Schumacher: Michael Schumacher has admitted his former protege and friend Sebastian Vettel might accept the "new challenge" of a Ferrari cockpit. Felipe Massa's new contract for just 2013 has only intensified speculation that the Ferrari door for Red Bull's double world champion is wide open. Some think the 25-year-old German has signed some sort of 2014 'option.' Schumacher is quoted in Berlin by DPA news agency: "Seb speaks in high tones about Ferrari, but I don't know what the future holds." Schumacher, returning to retirement at the end of the year, is Ferrari's most famous and successful driver, having won five consecutive championships with the Italian marque. Also as a two-time champion with a different team, Schumacher agreed to join the then-struggling Ferrari as a 26-year-old in 1996. Referring to the Vettel rumors, Schumacher added: "At some point, it may be that he is looking for a new challenge, too."

Schumacher Rules Out Job As F1 Team Boss: Michael Schumacher has ruled out swapping his helmet for a berth on the F1 pitwall as team boss. "No, certainly not," he told Der Tagesspiegel newspaper. "That's not an option for me." The 43-year-old has announced his retirement from the F1 grid at the end of the season, and also ruled out lower categories like DTM and Le Mans. "I will probably do some go-kart racing again for fun, but that's it," he insisted. The great German also said he is likely to join his wife Corinna in some Western horse-riding competitions. "My wife has already picked a horse for me," Schumacher said. Early next month, he will travel to Frankfurt to be crowned by his native country as a "legend of German sport." "It's a nice honor, no question," said the former Ferrari driver. "It's also nice to live to see it myself!"

Brundle Tips Grosjean Criticism To Fade: Martin Brundle is tipping the furor surrounding Romain Grosjean's antics to calm down in the coming weeks. In Korea recently, the Frenchman was notably cautious on track, amid suggestions he faced multiple race bans if he got himself into yet more trouble. Grosjean has been involved in several incidents near the start of races so far this year, and was banned at Monza. But former McLaren driver and British commentator Brundle backed the 26-year-old, insisting: "You can make a fast driver more cautious, but you can't make a cautious driver faster. Romain just needs a few races under his belt without incident, then the criticism will subside," he is quoted by the German-language Speed Week.

Report - Karthikeyan Pushing For Indy Test: Narain Karthikeyan is pushing for "an IndyCar test," the German language Speed Week reports. This week, we reported that while HRT is to keep Pedro de la Rosa at the wheel in 2013, the fate of Indian Karthikeyan is much less clear. After his initial F1 foray ended after a single season with Jordan in 2005, Karthikeyan was establishing a career in NASCAR in 2010 when the opportunity to return to F1 arose. Now, he is "seeking an IndyCar test," Mathias Brunner reported in Speed Week, adding that "negotiations with different teams" are currently taking place.