Honda is planning to keep its line up of Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button together for at least another season, the team's president Yasuhiro Wada told reporters ahead of this weekend's Japanese Grand Prix.

Just seven days after the Chinese GP the Formula 1 circus will race on the Japanese track of Suzuka, one of Michael Schumacher's favourite tracks: "With our win in Shanghai I'm looking forward even more to the race in Suzuka, which is anyway always one of the season highlights. This track is like a dream; especially the first sector. To drive that part of the track is just fabulous: the s-curves, the rhythm, just incredible."

After Sunday's thrilling Chinese Grand Prix victory by Michael Schumacher, which saw the seven time world champion draw ahead in the drivers' championship for the first time this season, Bridgestone heads straight to its home turf at Suzuka, Japan in preparation for one of the most challenging and pivotal races of the year. 

There are reports from Italy that Jacques Villeneuve has signed a deal with Jack Roush to race for the Roush Racing organisation in NASCAR. The team leads Ford's challenge in the Nextel Cup and is one of the top operations, having won the title in 2003 with Matt Kenseth and 2004 with Kurt Busch.

Team Netherlands signs rookie van der Zande

F1 auction drawing to a close

GP2 Test Times: Paul Ricard - 03-10

Spyker's Michiel Mol says second seat for '07 likely to go to driver who brings money.

Michael Schumacher claims his unexpected China win has motivated Ferrari to new heights.

And the retiring seven-time champ now reckons the title momentum is swinging back in his favour.

Michael Schumacher is looking forward to racing on one of his "favourite tracks".

Although Paul Stoddart still owns the rights to the name Minardi F1, Giancarlo Minardi is moving back up the motor racing ladder and has just merged its Euro 3000 operation with the Piquet Sports GP2 team, which was always a vehicle for Nelson Piquet Jr and is now no longer needed as Piquet has got himself a test drive in F1 with Renault.

Tonio Liuzzi was a great kart racer in his day, winning the World Super A Championship in 2001 - beating none other than Michael Schumacher in the final race of the year at Schumacher's own home track at Kerpen.