For the first time in 15 years, the Formula One Drivers' Championship has come down to a three-way fight in the final race of the season. Lando Norris leads the drivers' standings, but Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri are close behind.
'Impossible' gap
In round 15, at the Dutch Grand Prix, Piastri was leading the championship with 309 points, Norris was 34 points behind and Verstappen 104 points shy of the leader.
It has been only eight races since Piastri last stood at the top of the podium and the standings have changed dramatically. The two McLarens are still top but the new championship leader is Norris with 408 points and Piastri third with 392 points. And Verstappen in now second with 396 points, 12 points behind the leader.
How did it happen? Several events made the gap close race after race:
- Norris's DNF (did not finish) at the Dutch Grand Prix, allowing his teammate to gain a significant advantage in the drivers' standings
- Piastri's qualifying results and crashing at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix
- The double disqualification of the McLarens at Las Vegas, opening the door for Red Bull's Verstappen to tie in points with Piastri
- Everyone but the McLarens and Esteban Ocon pitting under a safety car caused by an accident involving Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly at the Qatar Gp
Who will be champion?
Twenty-three races and the most important one is the last one. The odds favour Norris, he only needs to finish on the podium this weekend, regardless of his contenders' positions.
Verstappen needs a gap of more than six points between him and Norris, and Piastri needs to finish first, no matter Verstappen's position, with Lando Norris finishing sixth or lower.
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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Wydad 2 Urawa 3
Wydad Nahiri 21’, Hajhouj 90'
Urawa Antonio 18’, 60’, Kashiwagi 26’
if you go
The flights
Direct flights from the UAE to the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, are available with Air Arabia, (www.airarabia.com) Fly Dubai (www.flydubai.com) or Etihad (www.etihad.com) from Dh1,200 return including taxes. The trek described here started from Jomson, but there are many other start and end point variations depending on how you tailor your trek. To get to Jomson from Kathmandu you must first fly to the lake-side resort town of Pokhara with either Buddha Air (www.buddhaair.com) or Yeti Airlines (www.yetiairlines.com). Both charge around US$240 (Dh880) return. From Pokhara there are early morning flights to Jomson with Yeti Airlines or Simrik Airlines (www.simrikairlines.com) for around US$220 (Dh800) return.
The trek
Restricted area permits (US$500 per person) are required for trekking in the Upper Mustang area. The challenging Meso Kanto pass between Tilcho Lake and Jomson should not be attempted by those without a lot of mountain experience and a good support team. An excellent trekking company with good knowledge of Upper Mustang, the Annaurpuna Circuit and Tilcho Lake area and who can help organise a version of the trek described here is the Nepal-UK run Snow Cat Travel (www.snowcattravel.com). Prices vary widely depending on accommodation types and the level of assistance required.
