Hardly any drivers advancing to Formula 1: Is F2 still useful?

Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman could easily be the next two drivers who manage to advance from Formula 2 to Formula 1. These days, the Italian and the Briton are the exception, as it seems to be increasingly difficult for talents to reach Formula 1's premier class. When drivers make the switch from F2 to F1, it is also arranged because they bring a hefty bag of sponsorship money, as in the case of Guanyu Zhou and Logan Sargeant.