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The climax to the F1 world championship is perfectly poised after the three title contenders secured positions at the sharp end of the starting lineup for Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen put in a stunning display of the season – in his stellar career – to take a blistering pole position.

The McLaren driver Lando Norris, who enters the race as championship favourite with a twelve-point advantage over Verstappen, is next to the Dutchman on the front row.

The British driver's colleague Oscar Piastri, 16 points off the lead, will begin from third, with the Mercedes of George Russell on the second row.

The Simple Maths for Norris

For Norris, the maths are simple – and the task looks the same.

The 26 year old will clinch the title for the first occasion if he finishes on the podium, irrespective of what his rivals achieve.

Verstappen, 28, could secure a fifth straight title if he wins the race with Norris in fourth, or if he is second and Norris is lower than seventh.

The Australian Piastri, 24, needs some kind of misfortune to happen to his competitors if he is to claim his maiden championship. He will also head into the race aware that there is a possibility he could be asked to yield position and assist Norris secure the title if his own hopes are over.

What Moves Will The Challenger Play?

Norris was brief after qualifying relatively short. He appears working hard to keep himself settled and calm as he navigates the most intense weekend of his career.

That's understandable. Although his path to the title is relatively straightforward, the fact Verstappen's is not threatens to make the points leader's race an difficult one.

With the championship at stake, and winning the grand prix not good enough on its own for Verstappen, the race is unlikely to be simple. What Verstappen and Red Bull might try to get in Norris' way remains unknown.

"No idea," Norris said, when asked whether he anticipated Verstappen to try to slow him into the pack. "Anything is possible. So we'll find out."

Verstappen was asked the same question. His answer was to note that such tactics are more difficult to execute now, as changes to the circuit have made it more flowing.

"It was a different layout," Verstappen stated. "In my opinion now you receive a slipstream around a lot more. So it's not as easy to do that."

He added: "I want to win tomorrow, but I also know that that's not enough. So I just hope for some Abu Dhabi magic that happens behind me. So let's see what we get."

That comment about "drama at Yas Marina" evokes memories of a historic race where championship fate was turned upside down by strategy errors.

McLaren boss Andrea Stella, who experienced that agonising race in 2010, has stressed to his team the strength of their season has been and that "bumps on the road are inevitable".

As Verstappen put it: "A lot can work in your favour, can work against you, and we find out tomorrow."

There is also the possibility of contact at the opening turn – a situation Piastri and Verstappen experienced there last year.

Norris, in his position, has the advantage of being able to be cautious at the start.

Piastri, when asked about excitement at Turn One, said: "Turn One I'm not sure," he said, "{but I'll have some handy."

He was also queried what he had learned about title deciders. His reply was succinct: "Unexpected events can happen. That's what I've learned."

Norris 'Carries the Burden on His Shoulders'

For each contender, and their teams, the pressure will mount in the hours before the race.

Even Verstappen, who has appeared utterly relaxed so far, confessed to some nerves before qualifying, but said that he used them to enhance his performance.

Commentator and ex-title winner Damon Hill, offering from experience, emphasised the critical nature of calmness.

"The way through this is to just concentrate on what you do for a living," Hill said. "You work with the engineers and try to make the car go faster... Once you have things rattling around your head, you can't concentrate."

"It's like when you lie down in bed at night, there's that gap before you go to sleep? You try sleeping when you might become world champion or not. You need sleep."

"It's intense. It's what you've always wanted. Lando carries a burden on his shoulders... on Sunday he'll know whether he has crossed that threshold and joined that exclusive club of world champions."

The scene is set. The protagonists are in position. The Formula 1 world championship will be settled under the floodlights of Abu Dhabi.