Like a lot of people in Singapore, my relationship with Formula 1 is all about enjoying the race weekend excitement. I’m not waking up at 2 AM to watch distant practice sessions, nor am I analysing technical engine specs online. But whenever I’m in town for race weekend, I always tune in to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the spectacle across the city (unless travel takes me away, like my recent trips to Sydney and KL).

When the official Formula 1®: The Exhibition opened its doors at Gardens by the Bay for its Asian debut, I was excited to see how the energy of the track translates into a walkthrough space. As someone who enjoys tuning into the Singapore GP on TV, I couldn’t wait to check out what this experience brings to life for everyday racing fans.

Having spent time exploring the venue, here is a detailed look at what you can expect, how the layout flows, and my favourite takeaways from the visit.

Setting the Scene: The Atmosphere Inside

The exhibition takes place inside a massive, custom-built marquee pitched on the Eastern Greenway at Gardens by the Bay, just a short walk from Exit 1 at Gardens by the Bay MRT. Stepping inside out of the Singapore heat, the venue immediately pulls you into the world of motorsport. It’s dark, sleekly lit, and filled with ambient sound design, the roar of V10 and modern hybrid engines, team radio chatter, and distant crowd noise echoing through the rooms.

The walkthrough is organised into seven thematic galleries that take you through the sport’s history, safety innovations, team rivalries, and engineering marvels.

The visual highlight for me was getting to stand right next to the full-scale display show cars. Seeing these cars on a screen never quite prepares you for their physical presence in person. Leaning over the barrier next to Sebastian Vettel’s championship-winning 2011 Red Bull RB7 and Alain Prost’s historic Williams FW15C, you notice how wide, amazingly low to the ground, and intricately shaped every aerodynamic component is. Looking straight down into the tight carbon-fibre cockpits gives you a whole new appreciation for the physical demands placed on the drivers.

The Most Impactful Space: The Survival Gallery

While all seven rooms bring great historical artefacts to light, the Survival gallery stands out as a deeply memorable centrepiece of the walkthrough.

This room is dedicated to modern driver safety engineering and centres on Romain Grosjean’s miraculous survival during his 2020 crash in Bahrain. Displayed under protective glass cases are authentic, race-damaged components salvaged from the crash site, including his burnt race gloves, boots, and damaged parts from the car setup.

Accompanying the display is crash footage and a detailed 3D structural scan showing how the protective Halo ring and chassis absorbed the immense impact forces. It’s a sobering, incredible look at how advanced safety tech has transformed modern motorsport, turning what could have been a tragedy into a testament to engineering excellence.

Testing Reflexes & Navigating the Interactive Layout

The exhibition offers a fun mix of interactive stations, and it’s helpful to know how they are positioned so you don’t miss anything:

• Inside the Galleries (The Reflex Test): Towards the end of the main 7-room walkthrough, you’ll find the driver reaction game. This uses light boards similar to the ones drivers use during physical warmups to test hand-eye speed. It’s quick, competitive, and super engaging. I managed to hit a 0.041 second reaction time, which was a personal highlight of the day!
• In the Main Entrance / Exit Lobby (Racing Simulators): If you are looking to try the Fastest Lap Racing Simulators, keep in mind that they are set up outside the ticketed exhibition loop in the main lobby area. This layout is a smart design choice because it allows simulator drivers space to tackle virtual laps around the Marina Bay Street Circuit without causing bottlenecks inside the exhibit galleries. You can easily jump on a simulator rig before starting your walkthrough or right after finishing.

A Fantastic Local Highlight: Singapore Drive

Before you exit back into the main lobby hall, the walkthrough concludes with Singapore Drive, a gallery curated specifically for this Asian leg of the tour.

For local fans, this section is a wonderful tribute to how Singapore transformed the F1 calendar by introducing the world’s first night race back in 2008. The gallery is filled with local racing memorabilia, archival footage, race suits, and stories celebrating how our skyline lights up every September. It brings the global story of Formula 1 right back home.

Final Verdict & Tips for Visiting

Formula 1®: The Exhibition is a polished, beautifully curated walkthrough that balances racing history, incredible engineering displays, and interactive moments effortlessly. It’s accessible enough for casual fans who enjoy the race weekend vibe, while still offering plenty of rich detail for dedicated enthusiasts.

• Time Needed: Expect to spend about 60 to 90 minutes inside the exhibition, plus extra time if you plan to try out the simulators in the main lobby.
• Pro-Tip: Make an evening out of it! Since the marquee is situated right next to Satay by the Bay, scheduling a late afternoon visit followed by satay and cold drinks next door as the sun sets is the perfect way to cap off the trip.

Quick Visitor Info:

• Location: Gardens by the Bay (Eastern Greenway, near MRT Exit 1)
• Tickets: Available on Ticketek (Adults from $49, Children from $29)

@prischewdotcomAsia’s first-ever official Formula 1 Exhibition is now open at Gardens by the Bay in Singapore! ?? From full-scale display of cars like the iconic Red Bull RB7 and Williams FW15C to testing driver reaction times and simulators, this is an awesome walkthrough for any racing fan! ??? ? Location: Gardens by the Bay, Singapore ?? Tickets: Available at f1exhibition.sg? original sound – prischewdotcom