Lewis Hamilton has rubbished suggestions the Formula One world title is his to lose.
Hamilton emerged from a difficult Italian Grand Prix weekend with his championship lead still intact, one he has held onto since a stunning win in atrocious conditions at Silverstone in July.
After qualifying a miserable 15th following a wrong tyre call, the 23-year-old then drove a stunning first half of the race at a wet Monza.
By the time of what he thought would be his only stop, Hamilton was running second in his McLaren, but an incorrect weather forecast by his team cost him the win as he was forced to pit again.
Although finishing seventh, main championship rival Felipe Massa could only manage sixth in his Ferrari after starting from the same position, with Hamilton's lead now a solitary point.
Hamilton has conceded the race turned into 'a damage limitation exercise', and expressed his relief at still being out in front in the title race.
But as for his to lose, a positive Hamilton replied: "When you're in the lead, perhaps."
"But I'm not looking at it that way. Kimi is world champion, so it is his championship to lose."
Raikkonen is now almost out of the running after a third successive race in which he has failed to score a point to leave him trailing Hamilton by 21 going into the last four grands prix.
Formula One's night debut in Singapore is first up, followed by Japan, China, and then the conclusion in Brazil.
Hamilton feels confident McLaren will give him the car to clinch the title, adding: "Singapore is going to be a great experience."
"I've never been to the city before, and I love the fact we're going back to a street circuit. Fantastic."
"Fuji, you know what I'm like there. I drove quickly in both the dry and wet."
"Shanghai, same again. I was very quick there last year, and I know the car I have will be fantastic there this year."
"And then Brazil, we'll be quick there again."
"But I would say none of them will be particularly key. In each race we're going to be attacking."
Prior to Singapore, Hamilton first has to stop off in Paris for an International Court of Appeal hearing at the FIA's headquarters on the Place de la Concorde next Monday.
It will hardly be the ideal preparation for Hamilton, but it is a necessary evil in the wake of what transpired in the Belgian Grand Prix eight days ago.
Hamilton was demoted from race winner to third after race stewards handed him a retrospective 25-second drive-through penalty.
The punishment was for cutting a corner and gaining an advantage at the time on race leader Raikkonen at the end of lap 42 of the 44-lap race.
Although Hamilton immediately gave the lead back to Raikkonen, the three stewards felt the momentum he gained in cutting the chicane allowed him to then pass the Finn at the next turn, the La Source hairpin.
McLaren feels it has a strong case, in particular as it twice asked race director Charlie Whiting whether what it had done was fair, and he replied 'okay' on both occasions.