The setting is spectacular, the lighting system is working fine (it was blazing away throughout the day yesterday) and, even if it rains, Formula One drivers are no longer concerned about their safety as they take their leap into the dark.

Singapore has thrown itself headlong into Formula One with a twisty and, at times, very narrow track that snakes its way around the heart of the commercial district in a setting that knocks the new street circuit in Valencia, for example, into a cocked hat.

With historic buildings and skyscrapers alongside the racing line - many of which will be lit up for the grand prix on Sunday - not to mention the green acres and Victorian splendour of the Singapore Cricket Club, it feels like a giant Scalextric has come to the big city.

In preparation for its challenge, the drivers and their teams have become light-fearing creatures who come out only at night. All of them sleep, eat and exercise on European time, seven hours later than the locals. The likes of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button are getting up this week in the early afternoon, having breakfast at 2pm and going back to sleep at dawn. It is a strange world for everyone involved, including Singaporeans, who have found Formula One thrust upon them in the evening - the race starts at 8pm local time - to satisfy the viewing convenience of people in Europe and the wallets of the sport’s owners.

Some drivers have expressed concerns about safety, especially if it rains, when glare from the lights could affect visibility. But Pedro De La Rosa, the chairman of the Grand Prix Drivers’ Association (GPDA), said yesterday that he is satisfied that the new Marina Street circuit will be safe.

“The bottom line is, if it’s not raining, we are 100 per cent sure that it will be fine,” De La Rosa, who is a test driver for McLaren Mercedes, said. “There will be no issues. People talk a lot about the tunnel at Monaco, but when you are driving, you don’t even notice it. If it rains, we don’t know because no one has tried it. But if we have enough light, it should act in the same way as if it’s raining in daylight. I don’t see it being dangerous.”

With Singapore viewed as a test for night races in places such as China, Japan and Australia, De La Rosa believes that the drivers are going to have to get used to them. “At the GPDA, we have not expressed our concerns because we are quite comfortable with it,” he said. “I think it’s a great idea, we just have to adapt to it. There will be more in the future, so we have to make sure we get it right.

“This is the first one and we are not sure what we will find, but the information that Charlie Whiting [the race director] has given to us is very positive, so we don’t see any problems. I’m sure the second race will be better, but, as a start, this should be fine.”