It’s September in Singapore.

This means mooncakes. Like the outrageously delicious snow-skin champagne truffle mooncakes from Raffles Hotel. It’s Mid-Autumn Festival time.

And it’s Formula 1, with just 12 days more to go.

Workers have been busy wire-caging the racing route, as the city preps for the big shingdig. Last year was my first time and this is likely my last.

Officially it’s called the Singtel Singapore Grand Prix because the telecoms company is the official sponsor. The Government of Singapore covers over about 60% of the total bill, something along the lines of $90million SGD.

The first race was a big deal, as you can imagine so this year people were also very excited. It was also the first night race and since then, F1 has been a huge event, an entertainment bonanza shutting down various parts of the CBD around the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

The official F1 weekend starts Friday night and last year the hoohaa started September 23. It was entertainment galore with big names like Massive Attack, Shakira, Shaggy, Rick Astley, and Linkin Park.  Oh, and Charice. So it was a big draw.

Friday was pre-race, so with my pass, I walked around to check out this year’s F1.

I didn’t have any expectations and so I didn’t know what to expect.

It was surprisingly much, much, louder than I had expected.

Being on the ground really shows just how fast these cars go.

Daddy G spinned as the fireworks went off, in a glorious light show of colours.  It was packed. It was hot. And it took time to get around the different zones. Thankfully I managed to find a table to grab a bite and have some drinks with friends. Then on Sunday night, attending a corporate event at the Standard Chartered Bank Building, I saw the Singapore F1 from a very different vantage point.