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

By Chris Borg

Updated 1714 GMT (0114 HKT) September 15, 2015

Chat with us in Facebook Messenger. Find out what's happening in the world as it unfolds.

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.

Photos:

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.

Hide Caption

1 of 13

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.

Photos:

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.

Hide Caption

2 of 13

Photos:

Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel will start the 2015 race from pole position.

Hide Caption

3 of 13

Photos:

Familiar scene – Smog shrouds the track in 2014 in this aerial view of the drivers' parade before the start of the Grand Prix.

Hide Caption

4 of 13

Photos:

Clouded outlook – A closer look at the Marina Bay Circuit during the 2014 drivers' parade.

Hide Caption

5 of 13

The Singapore waterfront stadium and Formula One racetrack are blanketed by haze in the final days of the build-up to the 2014 race.

Photos:

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.

Hide Caption

6 of 13

Photos:

Lew's the man – Lewis Hamilton poses on top of his car after winning the 2014 Singapore Grand Prix.

Hide Caption

7 of 13

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.

Photos:

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.

Hide Caption

8 of 13

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.

Photos:

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.

Hide Caption

9 of 13

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.

Photos:

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.

Hide Caption

10 of 13

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.

Photos:

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.

Hide Caption

11 of 13

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.

Photos:

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.

Hide Caption

12 of 13

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.

Photos:

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.

Hide Caption

13 of 13

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.

Follow @cnnsport

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."

30,000 haze care packs to be given out, medical subsidy scheme for those with haze-related conditions kicks in Wed http://t.co/1QHt3pyEih
— The Straits Times (@STcom) September 15, 2015

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.