Singapore haze prompts F1 contingency plans as air quality turns unhealthy

Singapore's air quality was classified as unhealthy on Tuesday as smoke from Indonesian wildfires covered the city-state, prompting contingency preparations around the Formula One grand prix. The Guardian reported that racing was not expected to be disrupted, while organisers planned to make N95 masks available on site if needed and coordinate with agencies over any visibility, health or operational problems.

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The haze has travelled from fires in neighbouring Indonesia, where an unusually strong El Niño has worsened conditions across parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan. Wang Jingyu, an assistant professor at Nanyang Technological University's National Institute of Education, told the newspaper that regional rainfall had been about 80% below normal since June. He linked that shortfall to the most intense fire season in more than a decade.

An FIA spokesperson told the Guardian that contingency measures were available if conditions deteriorated. Possible restrictions on outdoor activity would be more likely to affect entertainment events than paddock personnel. The governing body separately said it had no visibility concerns. Formula One also said conditions at the event location were not a cause for concern, and several teams reported no changes to their plans.

The report nevertheless identified potential challenges for drivers preparing for the heat and humidity of the Marina Bay Street Circuit. Chris Tyler, a University of Roehampton environmental physiology specialist who has worked with Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz, said drivers often train outdoors to adapt to Singapore's heat. He warned that prolonged exposure to polluted air over several days could be detrimental to those preparations.

Chris Carlsten, a University of British Columbia medicine professor, said extended exposure could affect cognitive performance. He described research in which participants completed cognitive tests after two hours in heavily polluted conditions. Those findings were not measurements of Formula One drivers at this event. The Guardian also recalled that Lewis Hamilton had been advised against running outdoors when Singapore hosted a hazy grand prix in 2019.

Spectators face a different exposure pattern, with concerts and other trackside activities potentially keeping them outdoors for hours. Race organisers said they would work with the relevant agencies if the haze created problems during the weekend. The Guardian reported that thunderstorms were forecast for Friday and Saturday afternoons, offering the possibility of relief from the smoke rather than a guarantee that conditions would improve.