No safety first for Hamilton in Singapore

Published on Friday 26 September 2008 10:14

LEWIS HAMILTON has stressed he will not play it safe at this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix and is setting his sights on an historic victory to increase his chances of securing the world championship title.

The 23-year-old heads into the race – the first in Formula One to be held at night – with just a single point lead over Ferrari's Felipe Massa.

Hamilton finished seventh at a range-drenched Monza earlier this month, a race he confessed was the first time he has felt nervous in.

And, with just four races remaining, the Stevenage-born driver knows every point counts at this stage of the season.

"The last race was probably the first time I have ever felt any kind of nerves," said Hamilton.

"Going down the straight at the beginning of the race I couldn't see a thing because of the rain.

"But generally I find it is just exciting. You are always calculating things, where the car needs to be, where I am going to be braking, how much I brake.

"I never approach a race saying I am aiming for fourth place. I always plan to win as scoring points is what is important."

With the race a new fixture on the calendar, Hamilton had been spending a lot of time in the simulator prior to arriving in Singapore. But he admitted that nothing can really prepare a driver for what can happen in the actual race.

"We have spent time in the simulator which is about as accurate as it can be as it gives us a good idea of the circuit," Hamilton added.

"Learning a new circuit is always tough. Simulations can give you an indication of where the first corner is but otherwise you have to learn it when you race.

"The team have done a lot of analysis and we are trying to find out as much as we can.

"But really when we get out on the track it will be a completely new experience."

Racing at night will be a new experience for the vast majority of drivers this weekend, a fact Hamilton believes makes it hard to predict the outcome of Sunday's race.

"I think the race will be very exciting," he said. "I think it could be even more exciting than some of the others we have had.

"As a night race everyone is in the unknown and don't know what to expect."