Raikkonen desperate for another win

Defending world champion Kimi Raikkonen admitted on Thursday his hopes of retaining the title were now out of his hands, but vowed to do all he could to haul himself back into the race.

The Ferrari driver sits fourth in the standings with four races to go after failing to get a podium place at the last Grand Prix at Monza.

Now 21 points behind leader Lewis Hamilton, the Finn knows nothing short of victory on the unfamiliar Marina Bay street circuit in Singapore this weekend will be enough.

"The most important thing is to win again. The situation in the championship is what it is and it doesn't depend any more only on my results, but of my competitors' results," he said on www.ferrariworld.com.

"In theory it's not over yet, but I don't have it under control any more."

Raikkonen has not won a race since the Spanish Grand Prix in April and the last time he scored any championship points was at Germany in July, when he finished sixth.

But he remains happy after signing a new contract with Ferrari, and is determined to get back into winning ways.

"We'll give it our best at Singapore, so that we can fight for the win, which still remains the main objective. We have to give it all in these four races and then we'll see what's going to happen," he said.

"I've said it many times: victory is the only objective, the essence of motor racing. I'm not just here for driving, but I want to win."

The omens though aren't good, with Raikkonen not shining on other street circuits this year.

Nevertheless, he has no fear of driving under the powerful spotlights that will illuminate the track in Singapore, which is making history as the first Formula One night race ever.

"I've been waiting for September 28," he said of race day.

"Of course when I think of the results I had this year on street circuits, I shouldn't be too optimistic, but I still like to race on this kind of track: it's pure emotion, when you find the right set up for the single-seater and race between the walls.

"I don't think that it will be a big problem that we race at night. They've done it already with motorbikes and it was a great experience.

"I'm someone who likes to sleep late. My body will adapt perfectly fine to this unusual time of day."