Last independent voice is departing and F1 will be poorer for it

Despite the attention being focused on the destination of the world championship at Interlagos this weekend, spare a thought for those at the other end of the grid. It will be one of the last outings for the mighty minnows, Minardi.

Team boss Paul Stoddart has finally thrown in the towel and sold the team. Red Bull is the new owner, taking on a second outfit as a feeder team for their young talent, like the marvellously named Scott Speed.

The Red Bull outfit seem to have money to burn, something of an advantage in F1. That is something that could never be said of Minardi. They have a budget that could pass for the hospitality bill of one of the bigger teams.

Of course Minardi normally are to be seen trundling around several seconds a lap slower than, and several laps behind, the leaders (they did manage a fifth and sixth this year at Indianapolis, but it was still last and second from last).

Despite that, Minardi have been an important presence in the paddock for several reasons. Firstly they've been the breeding ground for some great talent. Take world champion-elect Fernando Alonso. He needs just six points to wrap up the title in Brazil, and if he does so the focus will rightly be on Renault, who propelled him to the pinnacle of motorsport.

But he got his first break at Minardi and even though the cars are always slow, a good driver is able to make his mark and impress other teams. A bit like Mark Webber, who managed a fifth place in Australia a while back (and that was with all the other teams taking part).

But the most important thing about Minardi has been their team principal, Paul Stoddart. This tough, straight-talking Aussie made his fortune in aviation, and has dedicated several years to spending it in Formula One. After Eddie Jordan's departure last year, he was one of the last true independent voices in the sport, freed to an extent from the corporate straitjacket of responsibility.