Singapore Grand Prix: Haze won’t stop F1 race | CNN

Singapore Grand Prix: F1 race will go ahead despite haze blanket

By Chris Borg
2 minute read
Updated 1:14 PM EDT, Tue September 15, 2015
Workers install seats by part of the Formula One street circuit for the night Singapore Grand Prix, which takes place on September 20, as a haze shrouds the city skyline. Organizers say the event will go ahead, with air quality forecast to improve in time.
Hazy outlook —
Workers install seats by part of the Formula One street circuit for the night Singapore Grand Prix, which takes place on September 20, as a haze shrouds the city skyline. Organizers say the event will go ahead, with air quality forecast to improve in time.
ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Floodlights pierce the atmosphere to reveal the layout of the race circuit. The haze is caused by farmers in neighboring Indonesia burning forests to clear land, with air quality dropping to unhealthy levels. Paper and palm oil firms are also criticized for the practice. Swathes of Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia suffer from the resulting air quality problems.
Lighting the way —
Floodlights pierce the atmosphere to reveal the layout of the race circuit. The haze is caused by farmers in neighboring Indonesia burning forests to clear land, with air quality dropping to unhealthy levels. Paper and palm oil firms are also criticized for the practice. Swathes of Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia suffer from the resulting air quality problems.
ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel will start the 2015 race from pole position.
Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel will start the 2015 race from pole position.
Clive Mason/Getty Images AsiaPac/Getty Images
Smog shrouds the track in 2014 in this aerial view of the drivers' parade before the start of the Grand Prix.
Familiar scene —
Smog shrouds the track in 2014 in this aerial view of the drivers' parade before the start of the Grand Prix.
MOHD FYROL/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
A closer look at the Marina Bay Circuit during the 2014 drivers' parade.
Clouded outlook —
A closer look at the Marina Bay Circuit during the 2014 drivers' parade.
MOHD FYROL/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
The Singapore waterfront stadium and Formula One racetrack are blanketed by haze in the final days of the build-up to the 2014 race.
Covering the waterfront —
The Singapore waterfront stadium and Formula One racetrack are blanketed by haze in the final days of the build-up to the 2014 race.
ROMEO GACAD/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton poses on top of his car after winning the 2014 Singapore Grand Prix.
Lew's the man —
Lewis Hamilton poses on top of his car after winning the 2014 Singapore Grand Prix.
Mohd Rasfan/AFP/Getty
The haze problem has been ongoing for many years -- this 2006 image shows Singapore's skyscrapers enveloped in smog. Experts have warned that the annual recurrence of carbon-rich haze caused by fires in Indonesia could fuel global warming if not stopped.
Recurring theme —
The haze problem has been ongoing for many years -- this 2006 image shows Singapore's skyscrapers enveloped in smog. Experts have warned that the annual recurrence of carbon-rich haze caused by fires in Indonesia could fuel global warming if not stopped.
ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP/Getty Images
Malaysia is also heavily affected by the haze spreading from its neighbor, seen here in 2013 as motorists drive past the smog-enveloped Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur.
Lurking in the shadows —
Malaysia is also heavily affected by the haze spreading from its neighbor, seen here in 2013 as motorists drive past the smog-enveloped Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur.
MOHD RASFANMOHD RASFAN/AFP/Getty Images
A woman helps her friend with an anti-pollution face mask in Kuala Lumpur. Masks will be made available to fans at the Singapore Grand Prix, authorities have announced.
Covering up —
A woman helps her friend with an anti-pollution face mask in Kuala Lumpur. Masks will be made available to fans at the Singapore Grand Prix, authorities have announced.
OHD RASFANMOHD RASFAN/AFP/Getty Images
Students in Kuala Lumpur don masks during the 2013 haze -- a situation that led to states of emergency being declared in some areas of the country.
Precautionary measures —
Students in Kuala Lumpur don masks during the 2013 haze -- a situation that led to states of emergency being declared in some areas of the country.
MOHD RASFANMOHD RASFAN/AFP/Getty Images
A woman walks through a smoky haze in Siak Regency, Riau Province, Indonesia, during the burning of forests there in 2013. Eight farmers were arrested for setting fires on Sumatra Island, and fires are also common on Borneo.
Escaping the smog —
A woman walks through a smoky haze in Siak Regency, Riau Province, Indonesia, during the burning of forests there in 2013. Eight farmers were arrested for setting fires on Sumatra Island, and fires are also common on Borneo.
Ulet Ifansasti/Getty Images
Construction workers labor against the backdrop of a hazy sun In Medan, Indonesia. The province declared a state of emergency when smogs worsened in 2013.
Rays lowered —
Construction workers labor against the backdrop of a hazy sun In Medan, Indonesia. The province declared a state of emergency when smogs worsened in 2013.
SUTANTA ADITYA/AFP/Getty Images
Singapore Grand Prix: A haze descends

Story highlights

Statement says 'no plans to amend program'

Face masks to be available to fans at event

Haze caused by forest fires in neighboring Indonesia

CNN  — 

The organizers of the Singapore Grand Prix have said the event will go ahead as scheduled despite the haze shrouding the island city-state.

In a statement, Singapore GP said current air quality levels – rated unhealthy rather than dangerous on the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) – meant there were “no plans to amend the published racing and entertainment program.”

But with the floodlit night race taking place this weekend, the statement added: “The haze situation is highly changeable, not only from day to day but also from hour to hour.

“Therefore, it is currently not possible to reliably predict what the PSI level might be over the race weekend.

“We will continue to work closely with all the relevant government authorities to receive the best possible forecasts when they are available.”

Singapore GP said pollution masks would be sold throughout the Marina Bay street circuit on which the race is held, with all first aid posts “on standby to handle any possible haze-related conditions.”

An annual problem, the haze is caused by farmers in neighboring Indonesia burning forests to clear land for farming.

This year it has resulted in some flights being delayed or canceled, but the race authorities have said it could only threaten the event if “visibility, public health or operational issues” developed.

The September 20 race, the 13th round of this year’s Grand Prix schedule, costs the Singapore government $65 million a year to host.