Formula One prepares for a step into the unknown as Singapore hosts the sport's first ever night race

The track winds through the city state's streets and is lit by floodlights about four times brighter than those at a football match

Williams-Toyota's Nico Rosberg is all shook up in the paddock as he prepares for Friday's practice session. No sign of his blue suede shoes

McLaren's test driver Pedro de la Rosa tries the high-contrast helmet visors which the drivers will use to eliminate glare

World championship leader Lewis Hamilton and his fellow drivers get to grips with the circuit for the first time during Friday's practice

Hamilton's main title rival Felipe Massa takes to the Singapore streets in his Ferrari

Hamilton gets one up on his rival as he is fastest in Friday's first practice after clocking one minute 45.518 seconds

Renault's Fernando Alonso sets the pace in the second session, but Hamilton's time tops the list at the end of the day

Giancarlo Fisichella does not seem to be a night owl, the Italian crashing his Force India in Saturday's practice and again in qualifying

And there is bitter disappointment for Alonso too as his Renault fails him in the second qualifying session, leaving him 15th on the grid

Hamilton recovers from a poor start in qualifying to put his McLaren top with only moments remaining in the pole shoot-out

But title rival Massa produces a stunning final lap to slice six-tenths of a second off Hamilton's time to take pole