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The climax to the F1 drivers' title could hardly be better set up after the triple championship challengers secured positions at the front of the grid for Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Red Bull of Max Verstappen delivered a stunning display of the season – and of his illustrious career – to secure a scintillating pole position.

McLaren's Lando Norris, who heads into the race as title leader with a twelve-point lead over Verstappen, is alongside the Dutch driver on the first row.

The British driver's team-mate Oscar Piastri, sixteen points off the lead, starts third, alongside the Mercedes of George Russell on the second row.

The Straightforward Equation for The Leader

For Norris, the maths are simple – his objective is straightforward.

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 consecutive title if he takes victory with Norris in fourth, or if he is runner-up and Norris is lower than seventh.

Australian Piastri, 24, requires some kind of misfortune to happen to his competitors if he is to claim his maiden championship. He also approaches the race knowing that there is a possibility he could be asked to move aside and help Norris secure the title if his own hopes are over.

What Cards Will The Challenger Play?

Norris was brief after qualifying fairly concise. He appears striving to keep himself composed and focused 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 threatens to make the points leader's race an difficult one.

With the championship at stake, and taking race victory not sufficient on its own for Verstappen, the race is probably not going to be simple. What Verstappen and Red Bull might try to disrupt Norris's race is an open question.

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

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

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

He continued: "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 happens 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 completely reversed by strategy errors.

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

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

There is also the potential of contact at the opening turn – a scenario 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 asked about action at Turn One, remarked: "Turn One I'm not sure," he said, "{but I'll have some popcorn ready."

He was also queried what he had discovered about title showdowns. His answer 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 pressure will mount in the hours before the race.

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

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

"The way through 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 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. 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 scene is set. The protagonists are lined up. The F1 world championship will be decided under the lights of Abu Dhabi.