The International Automobile Federation (FIA) expects air pollution not to disrupt this weekend’s Singapore Grand Prix, though some outdoor entertainment events could be restricted.
Smoke from Indonesian forest fires has blanketed the city for weeks. Air quality was in the unhealthy range on the eve of race weekend. An FIA spokesperson said local authorities were monitoring conditions and had contingency measures in place.
The federation did not specify what pollution level would trigger restrictions on entertainment and other outdoor activities. FIA said it was following local authorities’ guidance and working with them to protect the health of Formula One teams.
The Singapore Tourism Board is also monitoring air quality. It said it would keep people at the Marina Bay circuit informed and provide medical assistance and N95 masks if needed. If haze affects visibility, public health or event operations, government agencies and race organizers will assess the situation together.
Singapore’s Meteorological Service forecasts rain from Friday through Sunday. The agency said rainfall could help clear the haze, although prevailing winds may continue to carry smoke toward the city.
At the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix, when air quality was also considered unhealthy, organizers kept first-aid teams on standby and made N95 masks available. This year, drivers Valtteri Bottas and Lewis Hamilton expressed little concern. Bottas said conditions did not yet feel extreme, although he called them unpleasant. Hamilton said he had noticed little while outdoors, but added that pollution had made it difficult for his plane to land.