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The climax to the Formula 1 drivers' title is perfectly poised after the triple championship challengers secured positions at the front of the starting lineup for the 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 blistering pole position.

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

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

The Straightforward Equation for Norris

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, would clinch a fifth consecutive 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 befall his competitors if he is to claim his maiden championship. He also approaches the race aware that there is a possibility he might be instructed to yield position and help Norris secure the title if his own hopes are over.

What Moves Will The Challenger Play?

Norris was brief after qualifying fairly concise. He appears striving to keep himself composed and focused as he navigates the most intense weekend of his career.

That's understandable. 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 uncomfortable one.

With the championship at stake, and taking race victory not good enough on its own for Verstappen, the race is unlikely to be simple. What Verstappen and Red Bull might try to get in Norris' way remains unknown.

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

Verstappen was asked the identical query. His response was to point out that it would be harder to execute now, as changes to the circuit have made it more flowing.

"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 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" is clearly a reference to a past race where championship fate was turned upside down by pitwall miscalculations.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, who experienced that painful race in 2010, has emphasised to his team how strong their season has been and that "setbacks 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 advantage of being able to be conservative at the start.

Piastri, when questioned about excitement 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 deciders. His answer was succinct: "Unexpected events can happen. That's what I've learned."

Norris 'Carries the Burden 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, 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 importance of calmness.

"How to handle this is to just concentrate 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 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 crossed that threshold and joined that exclusive club of world champions."

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