Kamui Kobayashi competed for Sauber in 2012. (Photo: Getty Images/AFP)

Kobayashi Signs Sports Car Deal With Ferrari: Kamui Kobayashi, who has lost his race seat at Sauber, will continue his career in Le Mans-style GT sports car racing in 2013. Last month, the popular Japanese tested for the closely Ferrari-linked AF Corse sports car team. He has now inked a deal to contest this year's World Endurance Championship at the wheel of a Ferrari 458. "It's an honor for me to become part of the Ferrari family," said Kobayashi.

Schumacher Back At Speed On Two Wheels: Despite vowing never to race on two wheels again, Michael Schumacher is back on the saddle of a powerful racing motorcycle. German reports say the newly re-retired seven time World Champion tried to keep his test outing this week at the Valencia circuit strictly secret. But DPA news agency, and other news outlets, say Schumacher was definitely at full speed on a 220 horse power Honda, with the Holzhauer team. In 2009 — during his first retirement from F1 — Schumacher was seriously injured when he crashed a similar bike. It prevented him from filling in for Felipe Massa following the Brazilian's Hungaroring qualifying crash, and Schumacher vowed never to return to full speed on two wheels again. His manager Sabine Kehm says now: "Yes, he rides motorcycles again but he will not race anymore." Speed Week claims Schumacher's best test lap at Valencia was only four seconds slower than the very best motorcycle racers in action on the same day. Schumacher has revealed he will be watching this weekend's F1 season opener from the comfort of his lounge. "I'm obviously still closely connected to the Mercedes team," he told his website this week, "but not in a specific role and not at the track."

McLaren Chose Money Over Talent For 2013 - Watson: John Watson has accused his former team McLaren of effectively hiring a pay-driver to replace Lewis Hamilton in 2013. Ulsterman Watson, a McLaren winner three decades ago, thinks McLaren was tempted by team newcomer Sergio Perez's connections to the Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim. "Politically they have always tried to employ the best possible drivers who were available. Not who they could afford but who were available," he told the Guardian. "There were other options and some of those were probably ones I would have gone for," said Watson, who said Nico Hulkenberg and Kimi Raikkonen would have been better choices in his opinion. "Unfortunately, they've ended up with Perez and the fact he's associated with Carlos Slim will have some value to McLaren," he continued. "McLaren have always sought the best talent and clearly that is not the case right now," the 66-year-old Briton added.

'Being A Webber' Not Enough - Villeneuve: Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Vergne need to really shine if they are to be promoted by Red Bull. That is the claim of Jacques Villeneuve, the outspoken 1997 World Champion turned television pundit. Youngsters Ricciardo and Vergne have been given a second full season each at Red Bull's junior team Toro Rosso, but Villeneuve thinks they face a tough task to prove they should be slotted in for 2014 alongside Sebastian Vettel. "They would need at least a podium," the 41-year-old French Canadian is quoted by RMC Sport. Vettel got there because he won a race with Toro Rosso. Many young drivers have been there (Toro Rosso) and most of them did nothing. Vergne needs to show that he is able to stand out; to be like (Fernando) Alonso or Vettel," added Villeneuve. "Being a Webber is not enough."

Mother Says Raikkonen's Comeback 'A Surprise': Kimi Raikkonen's mother says her son is once again enjoying Formula One, after his rallying sabattical in 2010 and 2011. The famous Finn burst back into F1 with Lotus last year, earning legions of new fans who enjoy his unique personality, and finishing a surprise third in the World Championship. Raikkonen's mother, Paula, said she was surprised late in 2011 when she read rumors her 33-year-old son was thinking about returning to F1. "I had heard rumors of his talks with Williams, so I asked him about it," she is quoted by the Finnish broadcaster MTV3. "He said he would prefer to go to Lotus, because it was a better option for him. It was a surprise," she said. "His friends had told me that he stopped Formula One because he was tired (of it), and then suddenly he went back. I think the little break was a good thing, because now he seems to be enjoying the racing again," she added.

FIA Vice President Loses License For Drunk Driving: Carlos Gracia, a vice-president of F1's governing FIA, has lost his license for drunk-driving. Spain's El Confidential reports that the Spanish motor racing chief was pulled over in the Aragon region last October. The 72-year-old failed the breath test, the report added. A court has taken away Gracia's license for a period of eight months. The German-language Speed Week claims he also lost his license for the same reason in 1966 and 2003. "We all make mistakes, and on that day (in 2012) I made one," he is quoted as saying. "I was at my sister's birthday party, I was not feeling well and I had a glass too much to drink. The police stopped me, I did not have an accident but my alcohol level was too high," said Gracia.