The absence of drivers like Timo Glock, Heikki Kovalainen or Kamui Kobayashi from Formula 1 in 2013 might weaken the grid but, as Edd Straw explains, their exits don't constitute a catastrophe for the sport

Only 73 drivers have started more world championship races than Timo Glock. The German is a very good grand prix driver and worthy of a place on the grid, there is no question of that.

But correct as it is to sympathise with him for a deal with two more years to run turning into no years plus a payoff to allow Marussia to run the well-backed Luiz Razia instead, this is not a case of a future world champion being robbed of his destiny.

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