Singapore GP haze: Unhealthy air quality recorded ahead of F1 race

Singapore GP, Start, 2025, generic — Photo: © IMAGO

Singapore Grand Prix

Singapore haze raises concerns ahead of 2026 F1 Grand Prix

The air quality is causing concerns in Singapore

Graham Shaw Consultant Editor

Digital sports specialist running global brands for 30 years

Tuesday 6 October 2026 15:27

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Air quality in Singapore has deteriorated to unhealthy levels just days before Formula 1 arrives at the Marina Bay Street Circuit for the 2026 Singapore Grand Prix.

All five regions of Singapore recorded air quality in the unhealthy range by midday on Tuesday, with central Singapore the worst affected.

At noon local time, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) stood at 133 in central Singapore, 117 in the east, 113 in the west, 110 in the north and 101 in the south.

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Singapore's National Environment Agency (NEA) classifies a 24-hour PSI reading of 101 to 200 as "unhealthy", meaning every region had crossed the threshold.

For context, readings between 0 and 50 are considered good and 51 to 100 moderate. The next category, "very unhealthy", begins at 201, while anything above 300 is classified as hazardous.

The figures therefore show that Singapore is currently in the lower part of the unhealthy range rather than approaching very unhealthy or hazardous conditions.

However, air quality remained a concern later on Tuesday. By 4pm, one-hour PM2.5 readings were elevated in all five regions, reaching 103 micrograms per cubic metre in central Singapore, 87 in the east, 77 in the west, 71 in the south and 63 in the north.

The NEA classifies one-hour PM2.5 readings of 56 to 150 as elevated, 151 to 250 as high and anything above 250 as very high.

The distinction is important. The 24-hour PSI is a rolling measure used for assessing overall air quality and planning activities, whereas the one-hour PM2.5 reading gives a more immediate indication of current conditions.

The deterioration comes just days before F1 track action begins in Singapore on Friday, adding another potential environmental factor for organisers to monitor.

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Why is there smoke haze in Singapore?

The haze affecting Singapore is largely the result of smoke from fires elsewhere in Southeast Asia being carried across national borders.

Scattered hotspots have been detected in both Kalimantan and Sumatra in Indonesia, while moderate transboundary smoke haze has been observed covering parts of Singapore, Peninsular Malaysia and southern and central Sumatra.

Singapore's NEA said dry conditions have prevailed across much of the southern ASEAN region, allowing fires and smoke haze to persist.

Prevailing winds across the region are expected to blow predominantly from the southeast to south, creating a continued risk of haze reaching Singapore.

Conditions could improve in areas that receive rain, but the haze situation may remain elevated in locations experiencing prolonged dry weather.

That combination of regional fires, prolonged dry conditions and winds carrying smoke towards Singapore is responsible for the deterioration in air quality being experienced ahead of the Grand Prix.

How bad is the Singapore haze?

The current readings are significant enough for Singapore's official health guidance to change, but they are still well below the country's most severe air-quality categories.

Singapore region	24-hour PSI	Air quality level
Central	133	Unhealthy
East	117	Unhealthy
West	113	Unhealthy
North	110	Unhealthy
South	101	Unhealthy

Singapore's PSI scale is:

0-50: Good
51-100: Moderate
101-200: Unhealthy
201-300: Very unhealthy
Above 300: Hazardous

With Tuesday's readings sitting between 101 and 133 at midday, Singapore was therefore at the lower end of the unhealthy category.

Central Singapore was experiencing the poorest air quality, with its PSI of 133 sitting 32 points above the threshold at which conditions become unhealthy.

Could the haze affect the Singapore Grand Prix?

Singapore Grand Prix organisers had already prepared for the possibility of worsening haze before this year's event.

A Singapore GP spokesperson confirmed in August that haze forms part of the event's contingency planning, which has been developed alongside government agencies and other stakeholders.

Should conditions create problems relating to visibility, public health or the operation of the event, organisers would consult the relevant authorities before decisions were taken. Medical assistance and N95 masks can also be made available at the circuit if required.

The government's interagency Haze Task Force has said relevant agencies will work with Singapore GP on measures according to different PSI and PM2.5 levels, with the health and safety of spectators, staff, drivers and crew among the considerations.

There is, however, currently no indication that this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix will be cancelled or that the schedule will be changed because of the haze.

Singapore has also experienced unhealthy air quality during an F1 weekend before.

Haze affected the 2019 Singapore Grand Prix as smoke from fires in Indonesia reached the city-state. Around 268,000 spectators attended across the weekend.

What does unhealthy air quality mean for F1 drivers and fans?

Singapore's official guidance states that when the 24-hour PSI is between 101 and 200, healthy people should reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertion.

Children, elderly people and pregnant women are advised to minimise prolonged or strenuous outdoor exertion, while people with chronic heart or lung conditions should avoid it.

When one-hour PM2.5 levels are elevated, healthy people are advised to reduce strenuous outdoor activity for the following hour. That guidance makes the situation particularly relevant to Formula 1.

The Singapore Grand Prix already places drivers under considerable physical strain because of the combination of high temperatures, humidity, cockpit heat and the demanding nature of the Marina Bay Street Circuit.

Drivers can spend close to two hours racing at high intensity, while team personnel, marshals and spectators can spend considerably longer outdoors during the course of the weekend.

Singapore will also host an F1 Sprint for the first time in 2026, meaning competitive running will take place on both Saturday and Sunday following just one practice session on Friday.

There is no evidence at present that the current haze levels make it unsafe for F1 drivers to compete, but the combination of strenuous physical activity and unhealthy air quality gives organisers another factor to monitor.

Written by

Graham Shaw - Consultant Editor

Digital sports leader with 30 years of senior level experience running global brands. Built sportinglife.com to be a behemoth in the UK as well as being in charge of the Planet Sport network of sites including planetf1.com, football365.com, teamtalk.com and planetrugby.com. Then grew goal.com to be the world's biggest soccer website in 18 languages and 37 territories. Was GM of Portals for Perform Group (now DAZN) with overall responsibility for sportingnews.com, spox.de and voetbalzone.nl.

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F1 Singapore Grand Prix