Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton heads into this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix as the championship leader for the first time this season after winning back to back races in Belgium and Spa.

The Singapore Circuit hasn't always been kid to the British champion and as such he is a little wary heading into this weekend's race.

Speaking at the official Thursday FIA Press conference, Lewis confirmed how he believes Red Bull will be quick here this weekend, but the aim is, of course, to come away from the weekend with as many points as possible, and hopefully another win to his credit…

Lewis, world championship leader at the moment and also like Fernando a two-time Singapore Grand Prix winner, you've had four years without this guy in your face at grand prix races, battling you for the wins. Is it too strong to say that you have missed those battles and do you believe that he might be battling with you again next year?
I hope that he has got a car to fight with us next year, I think that only adds to the spectacle and the challenge. We want to see the best drivers and the best teams up there and it's been a shame not to have McLaren where they have historically have been. So I hope that whether it's with McLaren or wherever Fernando happens to be next year that he has the chance to be fighting with us.

Obviously massive weekends for you in Spa and Monza and particularly that win in Monza and the all-time record on poles. Speaking of poles, pretty critical here. I think it's seven of the last eight Singapore Grands Prix have been won by the polesitter and the only exception is you, when you broke down that time in your last race here with McLaren. So would it be too strong to say that your focus this weekend is on that single lap and perfect execution on Saturday?
I've not really put any thought into it yet; the work goes into it today. I think qualifying, of course, if that is the case… you can't really overtake here, plus the cars are wider, so positioning is going to be very important, so getting the car set up right so you can execute in qualifying I guess is one of the key matters.

And there is the feeling that you might be up against it a bit more here compared to Spa and Monza from the Ferrari side, and possible Red Bull as well?
I think Red Bull will be fast this weekend and it's knowing that it's not going to be easiest of weekends potentially, but man I'm coming with positivity and with the plan of winning this race. This is still regardless of if that is the case, the others potentially have a little bit more downforce, whatever it is, we have worked as hard we can to understand the car and we come here with full attack.

In the last race in Monza, you said your Mercedes was a dream car to drive, and Valtteri also said that Mercedes found a different kind of stability. Do you think this would be a big advantage going into this weekend to fight Ferraris and Red Bulls?
I don't think it's going to be a big advantage. Our understanding of the car will potentially help this weekend. But you never really know where you are going to be able to place the car. So if we can get the car in a place where are comfortable and a bit like where we were in the last two races then we will definitely strong in the fight.

Lewis, five years ago you had to retire from the lead because of mechanical issues – can you still remember the emotions on that day and the days after – because I think it was the period when you made the final decision to switch to Mercedes. Do you consider this to be the best decision of your life?
I do remember the time. I can assure you it didn't have a bearing on the decision. Obviously, I'd been with McLaren for many, many years and lots of success – so one race doesn't mean that you make a decision that's going to affect your whole life. So, still at that point we had one of the best cars, I was leading, it was an unfortunate scenario because the team worked so hard to deserve that win, so it was really unfortunate. I think I was pretty chilled afterwards, as far as I can remember, but… yeah, it was a long time ago. The following days… I was already part-way through negotiations and still weighing up my odds but negotiations were looking good so I was already halfway probably to my decision.

The other part was: is it the best decision you've ever made?
Yeah. F1 is like a game of chess and it's really about picking your moves at the right time and hopefully you have enough options. We always have some options and we all have a decision to make. You hope you make the right ones. Of course, I felt strongly about the decision I made and felt fully confident in it. I could never have dreamed of it being as good as it was, or has been, but that was the hope. Again, another dream came true. It's been a really great experience and one I wouldn't change for the world, of course.

Yesterday Mercedes announced Bottas for next season. It was not a surprise, of course, but how is it important in this final part of the Championship to have a team-mate that is sure for the future, so that maybe he can help you – or fight with you?
In all honesty, it doesn't make any difference to this season: doesn't change my job, doesn't change his job, so it has zero impact on that for me personally. I think maybe for him, I can only assume it's a good feeling to have your next year covered. So yeah, I'm sure he's… but again we knew it was going to happen so it's not changed anything.

Of course, the new F1 game shows Monaco at night. I'd like to know from you guys what other tracks can you think of that would be great to run at night? Any thoughts about where might work?
LH: Not really put much thought into it. I think this track is great being at night. I think it makes a big, big difference. I think the day it would be a lot less exciting. Being at night time makes it a real spectacle. If you look at places like Bahrain, which is a beautiful place and a fantastic circuit, in the daytime, firstly it was just too hot to race really, and then, I don't know, just wasn't… when it's at night you really get to see the sand dune kind of things that are the real features of the surroundings of the circuit. So, I think there are some circuits we could do at night time that would be a bit better. I've not really thought of which ones. I think it's quite cool. Maybe a race where you have it one year in the daytime and one year it's in the night time. I think it's a cool feature.