Leonard Lim meets the man behind S'pore's F1 lights.

I was fortunate enough recently to get inside what will be the nerve centre of the Formula One race on Sept 28 - the brand new pit building.

More than that, I was allowed to peek inside its Holy Grail - the race control room - located on the ground floor, close to the garages that will house the individual race teams.

F1 cars will whizz past within metres of this room.

No pictures are allowed inside though, as the facility was not yet operationally ready and was still being fitted out with carpets and the like.

But suffice to say there is plenty of high-tech stuff here, given that F1 is the world's most technologically advanced sport.

Over four rows of some 20 television screens filled the front and sides of the room, measuring roughly 10m by 6m.

Here, stewards and high-ranking members of world motorsports governing body, the FIA, will observe everything that goes on
during the event.

Cameras will be stationed all over the Marina Bay track, so they can zoom into any portion, from the Padang end to the area around the Singapore Flyer.

Individual lap times from cars will also be sent here from on-board transmitters.

All kinds of data, from the weather in the next hour to the wind direction, can also be accessed.

It is here where stewards will investigate and decide on any punishment to be meted out if any F1 driver breaks the rules.

Like going faster than the allowable limit of 80kmh in the pit-lane. Did you know there were speed limits in F1?

Valerio Maioli, THE man behind the lights for what will be F1's first night race, will also be here monitoring his state-of-the-art
system.

If you ask me, this is the best seat in the house.

But too bad money can't buy you a place inside.