Haze and Extreme Heat Fail to Halt Singapore Grand Prix

The Singapore Formula 1 Grand Prix will proceed as scheduled this weekend despite severe haze caused by forest and land fires in Indonesia and soaring temperatures across the city-state.

Transboundary haze from land and forest fires in Indonesia has blanketed Singapore and neighboring Malaysia for several weeks, exacerbated by a strong El Niño event. On Friday, October 9, air quality monitoring organization IQAir ranked Singapore among the world’s most polluted cities, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 174, well above the threshold of 150 that marks unhealthy air quality.

Data from Singapore’s National Environment Agency (NEA) confirmed that all five regions of the city-state were experiencing unhealthy air quality.

Despite these conditions, Formula One Management CEO Stefano Domenicali said the event remained safe for spectators. Speaking to Bloomberg Television, Domenicali said F1’s health and safety teams were closely monitoring the situation but did not expect any disruption. “There’s no indication that this will pose a problem at all during this weekend,” he said.

Race organizer Singapore GP also confirmed that outdoor festivities featuring international performers, including Lana Del Rey and Mark Ronson, would proceed as planned. In an email statement to Bloomberg, Singapore GP Executive Director Adam Firth said organizers were monitoring weather conditions as part of their standard operating procedures.

Contingency plans developed in coordination with government agencies include on-site medical assistance and the provision of N95 masks at the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), motorsport’s governing body, similarly stated that the haze was not expected to pose a direct threat to on-track activities. In a statement reported by AFP, the FIA acknowledged that severe pollution could lead to minor restrictions on outdoor fan events. However, it said that “air quality and haze are not predicted to present a threat to track activities or the execution of the event.”

An F1 spokesperson echoed that assessment, telling Reuters that conditions remained manageable.

In addition to air pollution, drivers will face extreme heat during the race weekend. FIA Race Director Rui Marques declared a heat hazard for both Saturday’s sprint race and Sunday’s main race, with the heat index expected to exceed 31 degrees Celsius (87.8 degrees Fahrenheit).

According to The Straits Times, the heat-hazard protocol requires additional technical measures, including the use of liquid-cooling vests connected to pumps inside the cars to help prevent heat exhaustion. Drivers who choose not to wear the cooling vests must carry additional ballast to compensate for the weight difference.

The heat-related regulations were first introduced at the 2025 Singapore Grand Prix and have since been activated at other circuits, including during the most recent race in Sepang, Malaysia.

Drivers have expressed confidence in their preparations for the challenging conditions. Red Bull driver and four-time world champion Max Verstappen told The Straits Times that recent racing in Malaysia had helped drivers acclimatize to the tropical climate.

“Over the last few weeks, months, the preparation has been thorough and [we’ve engaged in] additional heat training. With the race last week, we’re already in the zone and you know it’s going to be uncomfortable regardless,” Verstappen said.

The regional haze has also prompted diplomatic discussions across Southeast Asia. Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim reportedly contacted Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Thursday to discuss the transboundary haze crisis. According to Malaysia’s Prime Minister’s Office, Prabowo agreed to take the necessary steps to address the fires.

Meanwhile, reports indicated that Malaysian authorities had ordered schools in Kuala Lumpur and several states to close on Friday, October 9, to protect children and other vulnerable groups from the effects of the haze.

Source : https://en.tempo.co/read/2121247/singapore-f1-race-proceeds-despite-haze-severe-heat