​SMOKE HAZE DESCENDS ON SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX.. WILL THE SHOW GO ON?

It’s one of the highlights of the F1 sporting world – the annual Singapore Grand Prix. Exactly three years ago, Lewis Hamilton was lured away from team McClaren in order to join Mercedes. And this year looks set to hold just as much excitement, tension and speculation as usual. Things like:

• Will Renault announce their long-anticipated takeover of Lotus? (hopefully putting an end to tax issues with HMRC in the process). It will also ensure their continued participation in the race into 2016.
• Will Red Bull’s (not so secret) plans to switch to Ferrari power, take place?

One thing nobody saw coming however, was the influx of smog that is currently choking the city, bringing with it its associated health issues, and reduced visibility.

Caused by illegal forest fires in Borneo and Sumatra, in Indonesia, the smoke has drifted across Indonesia and Malysia through to Singapore, showing no signs of clearing.

Kuala Lumpur has seen schools closed, flights are being diverted or cancelled, local sporting events postponed, and the public in general are being advised to wear masks and avoid outdoor activity of the strenuous kind. In addition – hundreds of military personnel have been despatched to help stamp out the fires.

It’s not the first time smog has marred a Grand Prix – indeed – it’s fairly reminiscent of the Chinese Grand Prix, where it’s not unusual to see a cloud of smoke hanging over the track, thanks to the factories nearby. However, current levels in Singapore far-exceed those in China – it’s a much more serious situation.

SMOG LEVELS AT THE SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX

Although levels are unofficially being acknowledged as ‘very unhealthy’, those in charge of decision making are standing by the PSI (Pollution Standard Index) levels, stating there are no plans to amend the programme at the moment. To keep everyone in the loop, Singapore GP organisers have also put a number of measures in place including a PSI reading on giant screens at the meet, and discounted N95 masks.

Haze is a very unpredictable factor to deal with as it’s so volatile. Wind direction and speed can change things by the hour, but government authorities are working with officials to ensure the best possible forecasts as they become available.

So how will this affect Hamilton and his competitors? Any racing fan will know how important this is to both drivers and fans. It’s a crucial stage of the season, and Hamilton, as British World Champion will be looking for this third win on the street circuit. He needs to extend his lead (currently 53 points) over his closes rival Nico Rosberg (who also happens to be his team mate at Mercedes).

Ultimately – FIA Race Director Charlie Whiting will make the decision on race safety – but only after consulting with drivers and teams. They’ll be looking at visibility, public health and operational issues.

Fans are divided on the issue , with enthusiast forums hot with debate at the moment. One fan commented ‘If drivers have enough of a view as they approach the corner, then visibility is adequate to race’. Others disagree, stating safety should always come first. The most poignant comment perhaps comes from someone calling themselves ‘DD’ – “Lives are worth more than money Bernie. RIP Jules Bianchi. Hopefully lessons have been learned.”

It remains to be seen…