ON A night when sporting history was made, the big winners were Renault driver Fernando Alonso, Formula One and its fans, and Singapore.
Over 100,000 spectators, close to half of them tourists, turned up in the heart of the city to witness the world's first F1 night race yesterday.

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Correct, the actual race did "wow".
The rest was hopeless - dangerously over crowded MRT, Taxi Touts, Traffic congestion, rip off food and drink prices at the event. I hope a lot of things will change for the next one.

$3 for a bottle of drink.... if they don't rip visitors for this 3 days, when is then a good time???

You spend that sort of money to throw a party, of course some people will say nice things to three-leg you lor.

While Singapore's first F1 race was a great hit with the enthusiastic spectators and viewers, retailers in the Marina Centre area must have suffered a great deal in terms of loss of business during this one week when the roadblocks were set up. We for one had our worst week of sales so far. I strongly recommend the government to consider relocating future races to outlying areas like Changi or Tuas so that businesses in Raffles City, Millenia Walk, Suntec City or Marina Square will not have to suffer, while others enjoyed themselves. The organizers should have compensated retailers for their loss of business, e.g. giving away vouchers to patrons to shop at these malls. Besides they have turned the beautiful downtown into a prison-like environment for a few months. Please relocate to a better place for everybody!

My sincere appreciation to the organisers of F1.Me and my sisters had a roaring business. Thanks for the memories my dear ang mo clients. When Will I See You Again?

I think the F1 organisers should allow more ordinary folks to catch the Race around the circuit - there is no need to block off the places with banners and black cloth. I second a recent ST journalist's opinion - that 'Singaporeans were not invited' to a piece of the action.

I realise we can be so cynical, wonder what is wrong with us. :)
I'm just happy to be part of this historic moment.

To block off .. guess is more for safety reasons than anything else...

Where got things free or cheap at the F1 lah?
It was for the high heeled, the rich and powerful with deep pockets to watch this rich man's sport.
Those who could not afford stay out lor and watched the sports tv channel at the heartland's coffee shops. An entertainment for 2 hours of racing [61 laps x 5.01km = 306 km in 1.57 hours or average 195kph] for some. Others sleep lor.
Many placed bets to get the kick in picking the winner.
How many punters lost their bets last night?