Singapore - Formula One heads into unknown territory on the weekend for the maiden Singapore Grand Prix which also marks the first race under floodlights. World championship leader Lewis Hamilton must overcome the disappointment of having an appeal against a latest penalty revoked and like all other drivers will have to adapt to the unfamiliar conditions.
Hamilton said on Thursday that he was not discouraged by having his appeal against a Belgian Grand Prix punishment rejected by the ruling body FIA.
"It didn't disrupt my week too much. It wasn't the best of results, but we move on," he said.
The FIA appeal body ruled that the sport's rules prohibited an appeal from McLaren against Hamilton's 25-second penalty for cutting a chicane in the September 7 race in Spa-Franchorchamps.
Had an appeal been successful, Hamilton would have entered Sunday's race seven points clear of Massa instead of one.
That would have given him an additional edge, but a top result is still important for both men in Singapore. F1 boss Bernie Ecclestone even said that if one of the two wins the race he will "probably be the champion" as well, as there are just three races left then.
Sunday's floodlit race is on a 5,067-metre street circuit which winds through the heart of the city-state.
The lighting system consists of 108,423 metres of power cables, 240 steel pylons and 1,500 light projectors, creating light that is four times brighter than that used at sports stadiums.
The drivers will also have to get used to a later evening start - allowing European television viewers to watch the race in the usual afternoon slot - and the prospect of rain mixing with the glare of the lights to add another unknown quantity.
"It is going to be an exciting weekend," said the McLaren-Mercedes driver Hamilton.
"I have never raced at night before but I don't think it's going to be a problem. It doesn't seem to be a problem in other sports and there have been huge preparations for this, so I think it will be great. It sounds like it will be pretty spectacular."
Hamilton said that qualifying, at 10 pm local time (1400 GMT) on Saturday, will be crucial because overtaking is difficult on the course with 23 turns.
"Overtaking is going to be very tricky, as it is at all street circuits," said the Briton.
The drivers will get a first impression of the condition in two free practice sessions on Friday, another practice round and qualifying are on Saturday and the 51-lap race on Sunday.
"This premiere will certainly be the most exciting in Formula One history - in the middle of the night, in the middle of the metropolis," said Mercedes motorsport chief Norbert Haug.
