F1 drivers face ‘unhealthy’ Singapore air as ‘super’ El Niño fuels wildfire haze

Singapore’s Formula One night race is an annual opportunity for the city-state to showcase its dazzling, illuminated skyline. But this year, the lights of the country’s many skyscrapers will shine a little less brightly.

The south-east Asian nation is shrouded in a thick haze that has drifted from huge wildfires in neighbouring Indonesia, with Singapore now among the world’s most polluted cities.

Haze is a recurring problem in Singapore during Indonesia’s dry season, but conditions have worsened this year as a “super” El Niño exacerbates fires across parts of Sumatra and Kalimantan.

“Rainfall across the region has been about 80% below normal since June, fuelling the most intense fire season in over a decade,” said Wang Jingyu, an assistant professor at Singapore’s National Institute of Education at Nanyang Technological University.

Air quality levels in Singapore were classified as “unhealthy” on Tuesday by the country’s National Environment Agency and F1’s travelling circus will be greeted by smoky skies when it arrives from Kuala Lumpur following Sunday’s eventful race at Sepang.

The polluted conditions are not expected to cause any disruption to the racing schedule this weekend, but an FIA spokesperson told the Guardian that “there is a contingency in place” if the haze worsens and there “may be some restrictions on outdoor activity”, although that is unlikely to apply to members of the paddock and would instead focus on “entertainment activities”.

The organisers of the Singapore night race said they will ensure the availability of N95 masks on-site if required and will “work closely with the relevant agencies” to make any decisions regarding the race weekend if the haze causes “visibility, public health or operational issues”.

The polluted air will add another challenge for drivers racing around the Marina Bay Street Circuit, already regarded as one of the toughest events on the F1 calendar because of its high humidity and tight, twisting track.

Chris Carlsten, a professor of medicine at the University of British Columbia and an expert in the effects of air pollution on physiology, said prolonged exposure to the haze during the race could affect drivers’ cognitive performance.

In one study, participants spent two hours in conditions with high levels of air pollution before completing a series of cognitive tests, including assessments of their reaction times. “Our findings show that the pollution effect is similar to that of an alcoholic beverage,” Carlsten said.

The haze could also impact the drivers’ pre-race preparations, says Chris Tyler, a reader in environmental physiology at the University of Roehampton who has worked with F1 drivers including Oscar Piastri and Carlos Sainz. Drivers often exercise outdoors to acclimatise to the Singapore heat in the run-up to the race, but Tyler warned that “these are the sorts of environments where prolonged exposure to the pollution over a number of days could be somewhat detrimental.”

Lewis Hamilton received similar advice in 2019, when the Singapore Grand Prix was last held in hazy conditions. The seven-time world champion said he had been advised not to go running outside in the days leading up to the race. Carlsten said he would advise all drivers to wear masks if the air quality remains poor, allowing them to “keep their lungs clean” before the race.

While the murky air is currently shrouding Singapore’s striking skyline, it should not obscure the drivers’ view as they weave their way through the illuminated city streets this weekend. The FIA said it has “no concerns” about visibility. A Formula One spokesperson said: “There is absolutely no risk to the event and the conditions where the event is taking place are not at any level of concern.”

There is also little indication that the teams are worried, with several telling the Guardian they have made no changes to their plans. Audi, competing in their first Singapore Grand Prix, said its drivers are trained to cope with a range of conditions, including “varying levels of air quality”.

For the hundreds of thousands of spectators expected to pack the circuit, however, the health implications are less straightforward. Unlike the drivers, who will spend only a relatively short period on track, fans could be exposed to the polluted air for several hours, particularly those attending the concerts and other events around the race.

Wang said short-term exposure to haze will generally cause only mild irritation in healthy people, likely in the form of a dry or sore throat, coughing or sneezing, but vulnerable groups, including elderly people, pregnant women and children, face a higher risk, with haze potentially aggravating pre-existing conditions such as asthma or triggering acute bronchitis.

Rain could offer some respite from the smoky conditions, with thundery showers forecast for Singapore on both Friday and Saturday afternoon.