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The climax to the F1 world championship is perfectly poised after the triple championship challengers qualified together at the front of the grid for Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen put in a stunning display of the campaign – 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 lead over Verstappen, is alongside the Dutchman on the first row.

The British driver's colleague Oscar Piastri, 16 points behind the lead, starts third, alongside Mercedes' George Russell on the row two.

The Straightforward Maths for Norris

For Norris, the equation is clear – 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 anyone else's result.

Verstappen, 28, could secure a fifth consecutive title if he wins the race with Norris finishing fourth, or if he is second and Norris finishes outside seventh.

Australian Piastri, 24, needs some kind of misfortune to befall his rivals if he is to win his first title. He also approaches the race aware that there is a possibility he could be asked to yield position and help Norris secure the title if his own hopes are over.

What Cards Will The Challenger Play?

Norris kept his answers after qualifying relatively short. He appears striving to keep himself composed and focused as he navigates the biggest weekend of his career.

This is logical. Even though his path to the title is relatively straightforward, the fact Verstappen's is not could render the points leader's race an difficult one.

With the title on the line, and taking race victory not sufficient on its own for Verstappen, the race is unlikely to be simple. The tactics Verstappen may employ to disrupt Norris's race is an open question.

"No idea," Norris said, when asked whether he anticipated Verstappen to try to slow him into the pack. "I expect everything. So wait and see."

Verstappen was asked the same question. His answer was to point out that it would be harder to execute now, as track modifications have made it less stop-start.

"It was a different layout," Verstappen said. "I feel like now you get towed 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. We shall see what we get."

That remark about "drama at Yas Marina" evokes memories of a historic race where title destiny was completely reversed by pitwall miscalculations.

McLaren boss Andrea Stella, who experienced that painful race in 2010, has emphasised to his team how strong their year has been and that "setbacks are inevitable".

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

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

Norris, in his position, has the luxury of being able to be conservative 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 popcorn ready."

He was also asked what he had learned about title showdowns. His reply was succinct: "Funny things can happen. That's what I've learnt."

Norris 'Carries the Burden on His Shoulders'

For all three, and their teams, the tension will mount in the hours before the race.

Even Verstappen, who has looked relaxation personified so far, confessed to some nerves before qualifying, but said that he fed off them to help him perform.

Commentator and former champion Damon Hill, offering from experience, emphasised the importance of composure.

"How to handle this is to just focus on what you do for a living," Hill said. "You speak to the engineers and try to make the car go faster... Once you have things on your mind, you can't concentrate."

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

"The pressure is immense. It's what you've always wanted. Lando carries a burden on his shoulders... on Sunday he'll know whether he has made it and joined that elite group of world champions."

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