September 20, 2019

Andrew Campbell 

The usually clear blue sky has turned foggy and grey in Singapore. The unhealthy smoke haze that has blanketed the city in the past week was caused by forest fires and burning land in plantations from nearby Indonesia, producing smog over Singapore. With high possibility threatening F1 weekend, Singapore and F1 officials are providing best try to reassure fans that it's safe to come - and that the race is on.
 
Meteorology expert Professor Koh Tieh Yong of the Singapore University of Social Sciences told the BBC, "It's not just a safety consideration for the drivers. It's also about if they can do their best. As they are going very fast, they have to look far ahead. So for the drivers, visibility would be a bigger factor than for the spectators. 
Mr. Koh said, "If you're going to race where the performances of your drivers are all compromised. Besides, they cannot perform as normal, then what is the point of having the race?" 

The point of race is to compete with their abilities rather than being a winner of driving through the clearer air most with luck. If visibility is getting unclear, the race could even be called off. But Singapore has gone through haze during previous F1 races without any cancellations.

Singapore Grand Prix organizers are closely monitoring the situation and have devised contingency plans in case the haze worsens significantly. Fans also can buy protective N95 masks at the merchandise and information booths and GP will provide assistance for anyone who is uncomfortable. Some fans from all over the world are already in the city. Nuno Gomes, who was from Portugal, told the BBC that he was not worried about the haze and that the weekend would be fantastic.

The organizers of F1 are hoping for a favorable wind that may ease the haze's impact, since the haze is quite changeable, even from hour to hour.

Photo:Webshot.