When it comes to reigning Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel, looks most certainly can be deceiving.
A case in point was last year's SingTel Singapore Grand Prix when the young German emerged from the cockpit of his Red Bull-Renault with a broad grin and the air of a man without a care in the world.
In taking the Singapore title for the first time, Vettel had never been headed by any of his rivals and, once again, he had made things look simple around the Marina Bay circuit. But the reality is that winning under the bright night lights is anything but easy.
Vettel might have led all the way but with each lap, and with each second, a flying Jenson Button and his McLaren were closing in. When the chequered flag came, there was just 1.7 seconds separating the two and, while on the outside Vettel remained perfectly calm, his words revealed just how hard he had been made to work.
'It was a fantastic race from start to finish,' the sweat-soaked Vettel said afterwards. 'In the heat we kept our heads cool and it was a perfect day at the office. It means a lot to me because I really like this track and it's one of the hardest challenges we face each year, so it's nice to come out as a winner.'
Singapore offers drivers a test like no other on the circuit's 20-race calendar. For a start, the race is anti-clockwise - one of only six Formula One events to do so. It's the only time they get to race at night and there's the city's tropical climate to deal with, too, pushing both man and machine to their limits.