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The finale to the Formula 1 drivers' title could hardly be better set up after the triple championship challengers secured positions at the sharp end of the starting lineup for Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen delivered one of the performances of the season – in his stellar career – to secure a scintillating pole position.

The McLaren driver Lando Norris, who heads into the race as championship favourite with a twelve-point lead over Verstappen, is next to the Dutch driver on the front row.

The Briton's team-mate Oscar Piastri, 16 points off the lead, will begin from third, alongside the Mercedes of George Russell on the row two.

The Simple Maths for Norris

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

The 26 year old will be champion for the first occasion if he finishes on the podium, regardless of what his rivals achieve.

Verstappen, 28, could secure a fifth straight title if he takes victory with Norris in fourth, or if he is runner-up and Norris finishes outside seventh.

Australian Piastri, 24, needs some kind of misfortune to happen to his competitors if he is to claim his first title. He also approaches the race knowing that there is a possibility he might be instructed to move aside and assist Norris secure the title if his own hopes are over.

What Cards Will Verstappen Play?

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

That's understandable. Even though his path to the title is seemingly simple, the fact Verstappen's is not threatens to make 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 probably not going to be simple. The tactics Verstappen may employ to get in Norris' way remains unknown.

"No idea," Norris said, when questioned if he anticipated Verstappen to try to slow him into the pack. "I expect everything. So we'll find out."

Verstappen faced the identical query. His response was to note that such tactics are more difficult to execute now, since track modifications have made it more flowing.

"The track was configured differently," Verstappen said. "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 victory alone is insufficient. So I just hope for some Abu Dhabi magic that unfolds behind me. We shall see what we get."

That comment about "Abu Dhabi magic" is clearly a reference to a historic race where championship fate was turned upside down by pitwall miscalculations.

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

As Verstappen put it: "A lot can go well for you, can go against you, and we find out tomorrow."

There is also the potential of a collision at the opening turn – a situation Piastri and Verstappen were involved in there last year.

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

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

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

Norris 'Has a Weight on His Shoulders'

For each contender, and their teams, the tension 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 fed off them to enhance his performance.

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

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

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

"The pressure is immense. 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 title winners."

The stage is set. The protagonists are in position. The F1 world championship will be settled under the lights of Abu Dhabi.