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The climax to the F1 drivers' title could hardly be better set up after the three title contenders secured positions at the sharp end of the starting lineup for Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Red Bull of Max Verstappen delivered one of the performances of the campaign – and of his illustrious career – to secure a scintillating pole position.

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

The Briton's colleague Oscar Piastri, sixteen points off the lead, will begin from third, with the Mercedes of George Russell on the row two.

The Simple Maths for The Leader

For Norris, the equation is clear – and the task looks the same.

The 26 year old will be champion for the first occasion if he secures a top-three finish, irrespective of anyone else's result.

Verstappen, 28, would clinch a fifth straight title if he takes victory with Norris finishing fourth, or if he is second and Norris finishes outside seventh.

The Australian Piastri, 24, needs some kind of misfortune to happen to his rivals if he is to win his maiden championship. He will also head into the race knowing that there is a possibility he might be instructed to yield position and assist Norris win if his own hopes are over.

What Cards Will The Challenger Play?

Norris kept his answers after qualifying fairly concise. He seems to be working hard to keep himself settled and calm as he experiences the biggest weekend of his career.

This is logical. Although his route to the championship is relatively straightforward, the fact Verstappen's is not threatens to make the championship leader's race an uncomfortable one.

With the title on the line, and winning the grand prix not good enough on its own for Verstappen, the race is unlikely to be simple. The tactics Verstappen may employ to disrupt Norris's race remains unknown.

"I don't know," Norris said, when questioned if he anticipated Verstappen to try to slow him into the pack. "Anything is possible. So we'll find out."

Verstappen was asked the identical query. His answer was to point out that it would be harder to execute now, as changes to the circuit have made it less stop-start.

"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: "My goal is victory on Sunday, but I also know that that's not enough. So I just hope for some Yas Marina drama that unfolds behind me. So let's see what we get."

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

McLaren boss Andrea Stella, who experienced that agonising race in 2010, has emphasised to his team the strength of their year has been and that "setbacks are unavoidable".

As Verstappen summarised: "Many things can go well for you, can go against you, and we find out tomorrow."

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

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

Piastri, when questioned about excitement at Turn One, remarked: "I'm uncertain about the first corner," he said, "{but I'll have some handy."

He was also queried what he had learned about title deciders. His answer was succinct: "Funny things can happen. That's what I've learned."

Norris 'Carries the Burden on His Shoulders'

For all three, and their teams, the pressure will build in the hours before the race.

Even Verstappen, who has looked relaxation personified so far, admitted to some anxiety before qualifying, but said that he used them to enhance his performance.

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

"How to handle this is to just focus 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 on your mind, you can't concentrate."

"You know 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. Rest is essential."

"It's intense. It's what you've always wanted. Lando has a weight 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 F1 world championship will be settled under the lights of Abu Dhabi.