Is it impossible to create a remote teamwork/collaboration as good as F2F? Or build connections and engagement?
People have flown to space, invented a wheel, electricity, etc. I think it's possible to solve those challenges too 
It's not a race between remote and office, it's about finding the best solutions for every situation.
If there's a will, there's a way 
A couple of arguments for successful remote teamwork and a discussions about the differences with F2F
Six Steps that Enable Virtual Teams to Outperform Co-located Teams – https://victorhrconsultant.com/2017/01/16/six-steps-that-enable-virtual-teams-to-outperform-co-located-teams/
When Virtual Teams Outperform In-Office Groups – https://www.psychologytoday.com/nz/blog/platform-success/201811/when-virtual-teams-outperform-in-office-groups
Fully Remote Teams Can Outperform In-Person Teams With This One Factor – https://www.bluezones.com/2021/05/fully-remote-teams-can-outperform-in-person-teams-with-this-one-factor/
Remote Work Can Be Better for Innovation Than In-Person Meetings – https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/remote-work-can-be-better-for-innovation-than-in-person-meetings/
The team meeting experience – ten subtle ways that ‘virtual’ is better than being there in person – https://unify.com/en/blog/the-team-meeting-experience-ten-subtle-ways-that-virtual-is-better
Master virtual leadership: 7 key differences between remote and face-to-face teams – https://www.howtomakepartner.com/master-virtual-leadership-7-key-differences-between-remote-and-face-to-face-teams/
Team Meetings In-Person Vs Virtual: 4 Key Differences – https://www.analytics-365.com/blog/in-person-vs-virtual-team-meetings/
Remote vs. in-office software teams: Which is better? – https://techbeacon.com/app-dev-testing/remote-vs-office-software-teams-which-better
Virtual Teams vs Traditional Teams – https://www.managementstudyguide.com/virtual-teams-and-traditional-teams.htm
Virtual teams versus face-to-face teams – https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313467660_Virtual_teams_versus_face-to-face_teams
Virtual teams versus face to face teams: A review of literature – https://www.iosrjournals.org/iosr-jbm/papers/Vol11-issue2/A01120104.pdf