Planet-F1

Lewis: Night race could be tricky & technical

Friday 25th July 2008

Lewis Hamilton is predicting a "technical" and "very tricky" race when the F1 circus stops in Singapore later this year for a night event.

The streets of Singapore will play host to the grand prix on September 28th in what will be a first for Formula One and many of the drivers.

"It's difficult to imagine what a night race will be like," Hamilton told Reuters.

"Then doing it on circuits with brick walls everywhere. I think it will be very technical, and very tricky for overtaking... shadows and everything..

As for the circuit, which will run along the Central Business District of the Lion City, the Brit said: "It is an unknown circuit. But what I will do is to get there early. I'll run the circuit, I'll walk it with my engineers.

"Maybe the street will be open to the public and so we can drive around. Really just making sure I have covered everything, all the bumps, all the curves."

The 23-year-old, though, isn't at all fazed about having to learn a new layout, saying he's up to the challenge. "We have this year a couple of circuits we have never seen before," he said.

"It is a real challenge. When we arrive on the Friday at the grand prix we have two hours practice, which is really 30 laps a session, not a long time. Then we have Saturday's straight qualifying.

"There's hardly any time to be able to change the tyres, and we have over thousands of dollars in the car we've changed, so knowing which one to change, which one to fill up, where you are, and me... I've got out there and learn the circuit as well.

"For me I think it is a distinct advantage because I learn circuits so quickly."