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The finale to the Formula 1 world championship 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 put in one of the performances of the season – in his stellar career – to secure a blistering pole position.

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

The British driver's team-mate Oscar Piastri, sixteen points behind the summit, starts third, alongside Mercedes' George Russell on the row two.

The Simple Maths for The Leader

For Norris, the equation is clear – and the task looks the same.

The 26-year-old will clinch the title for the first occasion if he finishes on the podium, irrespective of anyone else's result.

Verstappen, 28, would clinch a fifth straight title if he takes victory with Norris finishing fourth, or if he is second and Norris is lower than seventh.

Australian Piastri, 24, needs some kind of misfortune to befall his rivals if he is to win his first title. 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 Cards Will The Challenger Play?

Norris was brief after qualifying relatively short. He seems to be striving to keep himself settled and calm as he navigates the biggest weekend of his career.

That's understandable. Although his path to the title is relatively straightforward, the fact Verstappen's is not threatens to make the championship leader's race an uncomfortable one.

With the championship at stake, and winning the grand prix not sufficient 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.

"I don't know," Norris said, when questioned if he anticipated Verstappen to try to back him into the pack. "I expect everything. So wait and see."

Verstappen faced the identical query. His response was to note that such tactics are more difficult to execute now, as track modifications have made it less stop-start.

"The track was configured differently," Verstappen stated. "I feel like now you get towed 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 Yas Marina drama that happens 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 completely reversed by pitwall miscalculations.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, who was involved in that agonising race in 2010, has stressed to his team how strong their season has been and that "setbacks are inevitable".

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

There is also the possibility of a collision at the opening turn – a situation Piastri and Verstappen experienced there last year.

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

Piastri, when asked 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 queried what he had discovered about title deciders. His answer was succinct: "Funny things can happen. That's what I've learnt."

Norris 'Has a Weight on His Shoulders'

For all three, and their teams, the pressure will build in the hours before the race.

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

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

"How to handle 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... 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 might become world champion or not. Rest is essential."

"It's intense. 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 exclusive club of title winners."

The stage is prepared. The contenders are lined up. The Formula 1 world championship will be settled under the lights of Abu Dhabi.