MOTORING NEWS - On the subject of next season it looks as though most of the teams have signed contracts for their driver line-ups, with a few exceptions. 

Sauber have three possible options for the two seats – Marcus Ericsson, F2 champion Charles Leclerc and Antonio Giovinazzi.

Engine supplier Ferrari is keen to ensure the presence of their development drivers, while Sauber management are apparently keen to retain Ericsson.

Williams have already signed Lance Stroll for next year but the second seat has created a lot of speculation. 

The main contenders are Robert Kubica and reserve driver Paul di Resta, who acquitted himself well in Hungary. 

Other possibles are Daniil Kvyat and Pascal Wehrlein, the latter part of the Mercedes driver programme.

Hopefully we will soon begin to see some real input from the new owners of F1, the Liberty Group. 

Many people have complained that they have yet to witness any significant changes or proposals from the new management team and then on occasion complained when input was provided. 

Scenarios such as the boxing style introduction of the drivers for the USA event come to mind. These have been universally condemned.

Despite the presence of some extremely proficient personnel working towards a better future for F1, the possibility that the sport could now be run on the same lines as IndyCar or Nascar – that is, redesigned to satisfy the American market – is concerning. 

This market has never been particularly enamoured of F1 and it is going to take an almighty effort to change the average US motorsport fan's perception.

But will those changes alienate the existing international fan base?

One can argue that the number of such fans has already been depleted, due to ridiculous rules and cost-cutting measures that have created total confusion.

Then there is the continuation of the grid penalty system, that will become worse in 2018 as the number of replacement units available to the teams is being further reduced.

Ross Brawn has referred to the current penalties as a "farce", stating, "We are four seasons into this technology and we are still getting so many grid penalties, because we can't get on top of the technology."

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