Singapore F1 race to go ahead despite toxic haze from Indonesia wildfires
Toxic haze from Indonesian wildfires is pushing air pollution to unhealthy levels across parts of Southeast Asia, with Singapore set to host its Formula 1 weekend despite concerns.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Indonesia is in the middle of one of its worst wildfire seasons, with around one million hectares of land burned so far this year. Smoke from the fires has drifted across Southeast Asia, pushing air pollution to unhealthy levels in parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.
Singapore has been hit hard. The 24-hour average air quality has been in the unhealthy range, and the city-state briefly became the world's most polluted major city. The haze is not at its worst at the moment, but people can still smell smoke in the air and report a lingering taste. Officials warn conditions could get worse hour by hour.
The pollution is the backdrop to Singapore's Formula 1 weekend. The Grand Prix is due to kick off on Friday, with practice expected in about 24 hours before Sunday's race. More than 300,000 fans are descending on the city. Drivers and performers, including The Killers, Zara Larsson, Janet Jackson and Lana Del Rey, have already arrived.
Health concerns are central. Drivers already face cockpit temperatures of up to 60C, and performers may spend hours on stage. Race goers will be outside in about 30C heat for three days. Under the advisory, people should reduce outdoor activity when air quality is unhealthy, while children and the elderly are advised to stay home.
Formula 1 organisers say the race will go ahead as planned, with no changes, and they have said there is no risk to the event. Some fans may still pack extra masks alongside earplugs. The event is expected to proceed despite the haze.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, grouped by how many channels reported each one. Select a dot to see the source excerpt.
| Claim |  |
|---|---|
| Only on one channel | |
| Formula 1 organisers stated the race would proceed as planned without changes. | |
| Indonesia has burned roughly one million hectares during one of its worst wildfire seasons. | |
| Toxic haze caused unhealthy pollution levels in parts of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. | |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC News anchored its coverage in downtown Singapore, where it linked the Indonesian wildfire haze to the upcoming Formula 1 weekend. It focused on health risks for drivers, performers and fans, and on whether the race should proceed. It reported that organisers say the event will go ahead as planned, but did not provide on-the-ground reporting from Indonesia or the other affected countries.
- “Indonesia is facing one of its worst wildfire seasons with around one million hectares of land burned so far this year.”
- “The 24-hour average air quality here has been in the unhealthy range and in fact, I can tell you, it is getting worse hour by hour”
- “F1 organisers say that the race is going ahead as planned without any changes”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.