Formula One may be slumbering right now, but its month-long snooze has not deflected from its overpowering imagery as the greatest, most tense series of all time. And there is more to come; don’t take my word for it.

A rush of excitement from normally cool, calm and collected characters, famed drivers of icy resolve, all ex-champs, has spotlighted its historic rating.

Without kow-towing to ringmaster Bernie Ecclestone, who has been shamelessly singing the praises of his high-speed spectacle, the ex-champions have independently recorded their admiration and excitement at the 2012 showcase.

And with only half the season played out, with inventive improvements to the cars that double as missiles and even more expertise from the drivers who so daringly take them to the edge, the grand prix campaign, already assured of its status as the finest ever, is all set to get even more thrilling.

Sky Sports TV, who bought into the series this season and set up a specialised F1 programme that goes around the world, must be laughing all the way to whatever bank they put their cash in. In stark contrast, the BBC boobed badly by surrendering their exclusive coverage as one of their many cutbacks.

Leading F1 lights, who have seen all the ups and downs before, have been jostling to record their delight as the previous upper reaches of the sport have been surmounted.

Sir Jackie Stewart, the Scot knighted for his achievements behind the wheel, leads the assembly of the famous with his unstinting admiration.

He was a three-times champion in 1969,1971 and 1973 over a spell when F1 was at its most wheel-bashingly dangerous.

And he, the former Jaguar team boss and now an ambassador for another F1 outfit, enthuses: “This is without doubt the best Formula One season I have ever known. The racing so far has been sensational with so many different cars and drivers threatening to win, and I think it will get even better when we resume in Belgium next weekend. Stimulating, to say the least.”

The chorus of acclaim has been joined by the normally refrigerated Mika Hakkinen.

The ice-cool Finn, the back-to-back champion in 1998/99, said: “There’s overtaking galore, and that’s great for the fans. The racing has been absolutely brilliant, much better and more exciting than it was in my time. And I can’t see it being any different when it all re-starts at Spa. I can’t wait.”

Damon Hill, the great Briton and son of twice-champ Graham, clinched the title in 1996. Now a TV pundit, he says quite simply: “What the drivers and the teams have done this season has made F1 better than ever.”

And that claim leaves nothing more to be said.