Air quality in Singapore plunged to “very unhealthy” levels on Friday, 9 October, as thick haze engulfed the city-state ahead of Sunday's Formula One Grand Prix, while Max Verstappen claimed pole position for Saturday's Sprint race.
Air quality monitoring platform IQAir recorded a reading of 205 on its air quality index at 08:00 local time (00:00 GMT), following “unhealthy” conditions on Thursday.
The haze has lingered over Singapore for weeks, coinciding with a packed calendar of business, cryptocurrency, sporting and regional conferences.
The FIA, Formula One's governing body, warned on Thursday that the haze could force restrictions on entertainment and other outdoor activities during the Grand Prix weekend, although the race itself is expected to go ahead unaffected.
The governing body did not specify what air quality levels would trigger such measures.
Verstappen claimed the top spot on the grid for Saturday's Sprint race at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, clocking a fastest lap of 1 minute 31.156 seconds in Sprint Qualifying.
The Red Bull driver edged out Mercedes' George Russell by just 0.120 seconds, while Ferrari's Charles Leclerc finished third, a further tenth of a second behind Russell.
Verstappen kept his pole position after an investigation into a possible yellow-flag infringement during the opening segment of qualifying.
McLaren's Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris qualified fourth and fifth respectively, with Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton taking sixth.
Championship leader Kimi Antonelli secured seventh place for Mercedes, ahead of Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson. Red Bull's Isack Hadjar and Alpine's Pierre Gasly rounded out the top 10.
Carlos Sainz and Sergio Perez will start Saturday's 21-lap Sprint from the back row of the grid, after Perez brought out a red flag by crashing into the barriers early in the session.
The Sprint gets under way at 17:00 local time on Saturday, 10 October.
Sweltering heat and high humidity are expected to test drivers throughout the weekend, with daytime temperatures forecast to reach 32–33°C and overnight lows of around 26°C.
Rain could further complicate proceedings, with a 40 per cent chance of showers on both Saturday and Sunday.
Track temperatures could climb to 55°C or higher, putting additional strain on tyres and increasing the physical demands on drivers navigating the tight street circuit.
The Grand Prix takes place on Sunday, 11 October, when afternoon showers or thunderstorms could disrupt proceedings.
With air quality remaining a concern, uncertainty surrounds outdoor activities over the weekend, although the FIA maintains that the race itself should not be affected.
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