With his legal long-shot thrown out of court, Formula One championship leader Lewis Hamilton will be forgiven for looking to the heavens this weekend as he bids to break free of Ferrari's Felipe Massa at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Hamilton's appeal to be reinstated as Belgian Grand Prix winner was dismissed in Paris on Tuesday -- he had been demoted from first to third at Spa-Francorchamps in the Sept. 7 race after cutting a chicane -- and the Briton now starts the sport's first night race on Sunday with 78 points to Massa's 77.
The untested street circuit will throw up a number of unique challenges to the drivers, but it is Singapore's tropical climate which is likely to prove more decisive than any floodlights or sleep patterns -- and it should work in the McLaren man's favour.
Heavy rain has fallen at night since Sunday and local meteorologists are predicting a 50 percent chance of rain come the weekend.
Hamilton came through rain and chaotic conditions to triumph on Monaco's street circuit earlier this season and is acknowledged as a great talent in the wet. Certainly a slippery, metal barrier-lined Singapore circuit would seem to suit him more than his immediate rivals.
RELAXED AND CONFIDENT
The 23-year-old was relaxed and confident when he jetted into the South-East Asian city-state late on Tuesday, joking and laughing with fans at an exclusive welcome party.
He told guests he was focused and looking forward to the challenges of the Singapore race and later vowed to put the failed appeal behind him.
"People will probably expect me to be depressed about (the appeal) result, but that isn't me," he said in a McLaren statement.
"All I want to do now is .... get on with what we drivers do best -- racing each other."
Not only is Hamilton considered a more accomplished wet-weather driver than his Brazilian rival, but a rainy race would play into McLaren's hands for a second reason, too.
Ferrari have struggled to heat up their tyres to optimum levels in races this year and that will be a much bigger issue in the wet and at night, when track temperatures are lower.
TIGHT CIRCUIT
Hamilton and McLaren would most likely prefer rain on all three days. Like Monaco and Valencia, the tight Singapore circuit is expected to present few overtaking opportunities and grabbing pole position from Saturday's qualifying will be as vital.
It will not be lost on Massa that his poorest finish this year was at the wet and windy British Grand Prix where he spun repeatedly on his way to 13th position.
"I would prefer it to be dry in Singapore," the Ferrari driver said after a wet final day of testing at the Mugello circuit in Italy last week.
"But we can do well and have a consistent race in the wet too."