Singapore: Renault row won't affect GP

The build-up to F1's second night race is almost certain to be overshadowed by Monday's FIA World Motor Sport Council hearing into allegations Renault fixed the result of last year's Singapore Grand Prix.

However, although that will put the focus on the event for all the wrong reasons, senior figures from the city state are not worried that it will have any negative impact on the race.

Senior Minister of State S. Iswaran has told local media that he believes the event's reputation will not suffer because of what happened last year.

"From what I understand from the experts, this is really about more a particular team's tactics and so on, not a comment about the venue," he said. "So I don't think it has any particular impact on Singapore.

"This is really a matter between the FIA and the teams. We are a host for the race, our job is to make sure that we put on a good show, so that the visitors come here and enjoy themselves, have an eventful experience and a memorable one."

More worrying for the race organisers, however, is the smog haze that has blown in over Singapore due to a mixture of deforestation fires in Kalimantan and Sumatra, and an El Nino weather pattern bringing hotter and drier weather to the region.

S. Iswaran said that the matter would be left in the hands of the FIA, who will have to take decisions about whether or not safety is being affected.

"As for the race - the safety and impact on it (due to) the haze situation - it will be a decision taken by the FIA, so we'll leave it in their good hands," he said.

"As for our own precautions or any advisories that would be required, it will be issued by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources. They will coordinate any need for it."

The Singapore Motor Sports Association president Tan Teng Lip admitted that in a worst case scenario, track action would have to be stopped.

"The worst scenario is of course if the visibility becomes so bad and it affects the drivers, you know, we talk about safety issue, so the last resort is always to stop the race, " he said.

"It is actually similar situation as if there's a very heavy rain, just like what happened in Sepang earlier this year. But of course that has to be decided by the race stewards."