August 20, 2026 | 07:35 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Organisers of the Singapore Grand Prix are preparing for possible haze disruptions as the city-state faces a heightened risk of transboundary smoke during this year’s dry season. The Singapore GP said haze is covered under its overall contingency plan, with organisers ready to work with government agencies if air quality affects visibility, public health or F1 race operations.
According to CNA, the warning comes as Singapore enters a period of increased haze risk. The Meteorological Service Singapore has said that fires in Indonesia’s Sumatra and Kalimantan could send smoke toward Singapore if they intensify. Meanwhile, hotter and drier conditions are expected amid El Nino.
The government’s Interagency Haze Task Force will coordinate with the Singapore GP based on different levels of the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) and hourly PM2.5 readings. Measures include keeping spectators, staff, drivers and crew informed about the latest haze conditions, while ensuring medical assistance and N95 masks are available at the circuit if needed.
The task force has established tiered response plans based on the severity of the haze. The 28-agency task force, chaired by the National Environment Agency, has been reviewing and updating its response plans since April in preparation for possible transboundary haze.
Additionally, the authorities have stepped up public communications about the increased haze risk and precautions people should take. Organizers in the wider outdoor event sector are monitoring PSI forecasts and preparing for possible changes, postponements, or cancellations if air quality deteriorates.
The Singapore GP is not currently planning to cancel or postpone the F1 race. Rather, haze is being treated as a contingency scenario, with decisions to be made in coordination with government agencies if air quality creates problems for safety, visibility or race operations.
The risk is part of a broader regional problem. Reuters reported that Indonesia has intensified efforts to contain forest and land fires after more than 107,000 hectares were burned between January and June. Indonesia is experiencing a longer and more intense dry season this year as El Nino strengthens, increasing the risk of drought, forest fires and worsening air pollution.
The Straits Times reported that Singapore faces a high risk of severe haze in the second half of 2026, with El Nino and a potential positive Indian Ocean Dipole expected to contribute to a longer and more intense dry season. These conditions could increase the risk of fires in peatlands and vegetation across the region.
Singapore faced a similar situation during the 2019 Singapore GP, when air quality deteriorated because of forest fires in Indonesia. Despite the haze, about 268,000 spectators attended the race, while organisers placed first-aid teams on standby and made N95 masks available.
With this year’s race approaching, authorities and organisers are closely monitoring regional fire activity and weather conditions. Any decision to modify the event would depend on the severity of the haze and its impact on public health, visibility and race operations.
Read: How Severe Is the Haze in South Kalimantan?
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