In the past week, since Ford announced that it was to put both Jaguar Racing and Cosworth Racing up for sale, many millions of words have been written and uttered, regarding the future of F1, and in particular the 'minnows'.

Within hours of the announcement, Formula One website forums were bombarded with posts questioning the possibility of the 'big teams' running three or even four cars in 2005 and beyond.

Bernie Ecclestone has been particularly vociferous in the past week, opining that there will probably only be seven teams in Melbourne and claiming that the remaining teams entering three cars might actually be good for the sport, though quickly adding that he hopes it wouldn't lead to Ferrari totally dominating every podium. As if.

To many, the loss of teams such as Minardi, Jordan and indeed Jaguar, wouldn't simply be a sentimental issue, these teams have another important role, a role which many of us overlook, and something that Bernie, the team bosses and upcoming drivers would do well to remember.

Looking at the current grid - as it appeared in China - let's look at the 20 drivers and the teams that brought them into F1.

In 1994, Olivier Panis was brought into F1 by Ligier. The French team was subsequently purchased by four-time world champion Alain Prost. Sadly, the team, which gave Nick Heidfeld his F1 debut in 2000, ran into financial problems at the end of 2001 and failed to survive the winter.

Jordan and Minardi have both introduced a number of drivers to F1. The Irish outfit 'discovering' Michael Schumacher, his brother Ralf, Rubens Barrichello, Takuma Sato, Zsolt Baumgartner and of course Timo Glock.

Minardi is responsible for introducing Fernando Alonso, Giancarlo Fisichella, Mark Webber and Gianmaria Bruni to F1.

Christian Klien has Jaguar to thank for his F1 'baptism', not forgetting Red Bull, while Sauber, another privateer, brought Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen into F1.

Therefore, if you look at Saturday's grid, and leave in simply the drivers that McLaren, WilliamsF1, Ferrari, Renault, Toyota and Honda-backed BAR have brought into F1, it all looks a little sparse.

Doesn't it?