Singapore F1 not threatened by haze, FIA says

Haze from Indonesian fires is not forecast to threaten this weekend's Formula 1 race in Singapore, motorsport's global governing body said, even as air pollution in the city-state reached unhealthy levels.

The FIA said air quality was being monitored by local authorities and contingency measures were in place if conditions worsened. “Based on the latest information available, air quality and haze are not forecast to represent a threat to track activity or the conduct of the event,” it said.

Singapore's air quality crossed the unhealthy threshold on Thursday. IQAir listed Singapore as the world's third most-polluted major city after Kuala Lumpur and Kinshasa, with an Air Quality Index reading of 174. AQI readings above 150 are classified as unhealthy, while levels above 300 are considered hazardous.

Singapore's National Environment Agency data showed all five regions of the city-state recording unhealthy levels of air pollution.

Singapore and Malaysia have been affected by haze for more than a month as smoke drifted from uncontrolled fires on Borneo and Sumatra islands.

Singapore GP said haze was one of the potential issues covered by its contingency plan. It said that if haze caused visibility, public health or operational problems, it would work with relevant agencies before making any collective decisions on the event.

A Formula 1 spokesperson said there was “absolutely no risk to the event” and that conditions at the race site were not at a level of concern.

Some fans told AFP they were unconcerned, while others said they were limiting outdoor activity because of poor air quality. The FIA's F1 race director Rui Marques also issued a heat hazard on Thursday, saying Saturday's sprint and Sunday's race would run at times in a heat index above 31C.