Stewart hails 'fantastic' Singapore GP

That is the view of former world champion Jackie Stewart, who thinks that grand prix racing will be the biggest winner from the triumph of its first night race around the streets of Singapore.

"I think it was a fantastic event in Singapore, they made us very welcome the community of F1," said Stewart. "The Singapore GP has allowed F1 to rise above all the politics, all the disgrace, the dramas and regulatory problems that we have seen over the last few months.

"Finally motor racing has overcome those and it has put F1 back where it should be, at the top."

Although race organisers will likely have to change the design of the pitlane entry and exit, as well as smooth out the bumpy track surface for next year's race, there was universal praise for the event from figures in F1.

McLaren F1 CEO Martin Whitmarsh said: "It is a great venue. I think it is a fantastic event."

Toyota team president John Howett said: "It is a fabulous venue. It was very tough for the drivers to concentrate and very hot. I am very impressed."

Singapore's prime minister Lee Hsien Loong attended the race on Sunday and was delighted with how the event went, and what is meant for the city state.

"The race itself is one thing," he was quoted as saying by the Straits Times. "I think the audience, we've got the stands full, people are enjoying themselves and we've got a lot of publicity from this for Singapore.

"I've been watching it on TV the last couple of nights, not watching the cars, but watching the skyline, to see whether the skyline shows up and we see Singapore showing off its best.

"And I think that it's a city we can be proud of, and this is a valuable buzz, publicity for us around the world, which will benefit us in many ways."