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The climax to the F1 drivers' title could hardly be better set up after the three title contenders qualified together at the sharp end of the grid for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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

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

The British driver's colleague Oscar Piastri, 16 points off the summit, starts third, with Mercedes' George Russell on the second row.

The Straightforward Equation 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, irrespective of what his rivals achieve.

Verstappen, 28, could secure a fifth straight title if he takes victory with Norris finishing fourth, or if he is runner-up 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 also approaches the race knowing that there is a chance he could be asked to yield position and help Norris win if his own chances have faded.

What Moves Will Verstappen Play?

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

This is logical. Even though his route to the championship 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 good enough on its own for Verstappen, the race is probably not going to be simple. What Verstappen and Red Bull might try to get in Norris' way remains unknown.

"I don't know," Norris said, when asked whether he expected Verstappen to try to slow him into the pack. "I expect everything. So we'll find out."

Verstappen was asked the same question. His response was to point out that such tactics are more difficult to execute now, as track modifications have made it less stop-start.

"The track was configured differently," Verstappen said. "I feel like now you receive a slipstream 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 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 past race where championship fate was completely reversed by strategy errors.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, who experienced that agonising 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: "Many things can go well for you, can go against you, and we find out tomorrow."

There is also the possibility of a collision at the first corner – a scenario Piastri and Verstappen experienced there last year.

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

Piastri, when asked about excitement 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 discovered 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 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 enhance his performance.

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

"How to handle 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 gap 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 exclusive club of world champions."

The stage is prepared. The protagonists are in position. The Formula 1 world championship will be settled under the lights of Abu Dhabi.