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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 front 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 blistering 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 Dutch driver on the front row.

The Briton's team-mate Oscar Piastri, 16 points behind the summit, starts third, alongside Mercedes' George Russell on the second row.

The Simple Maths for The Leader

For Norris, the equation is clear – his objective is straightforward.

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

Verstappen, 28, would clinch a fifth consecutive title if he wins the race with Norris in fourth, or if he is second and Norris is lower than seventh.

Australian Piastri, 24, requires some kind of misfortune to befall his rivals if he is to claim his maiden championship. He will also head into the race aware that there is a chance he might be instructed to move aside and help Norris win if his own hopes are over.

What Cards Will The Challenger Play?

Norris was brief after qualifying relatively short. 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 path to the title is seemingly simple, 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 good enough on its own for Verstappen, the race is unlikely to be simple. The tactics Verstappen may employ to get in Norris' way remains unknown.

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

Verstappen faced the identical query. His response was to point out that such tactics are more difficult to execute now, as changes to the circuit 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 continued: "I want to win tomorrow, but I also know that victory alone is insufficient. So I just hope for some Yas Marina drama that unfolds behind me. So let's see what we get."

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

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

As Verstappen summarised: "Many things can work in your favour, can go against you, and we discover tomorrow."

There is also the possibility of contact at the first corner – a scenario Piastri and Verstappen were involved in there last year.

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

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

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

Norris 'Has a Weight 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 composure.

"The way through 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 rattling around your head, 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 can be 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 made it and joined that elite group of title winners."

The scene is prepared. The contenders are lined up. The F1 world championship will be settled under the floodlights of Abu Dhabi.