F1 Title Decider Could Hardly Be Better Set Up.

The climax to the Formula 1 drivers' title could hardly be better set up after the triple championship challengers qualified together at the sharp end of the starting lineup for Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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

McLaren's Lando Norris, who enters the race as championship favourite with a 12-point advantage over Verstappen, is next to the Dutchman on the first row.

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

The Simple Equation for The Leader

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

The 26-year-old will be champion for the first time if he finishes on the podium, irrespective of anyone else's result.

Verstappen, 28, could secure a fifth straight title if he wins the race with Norris finishing fourth, or if he is runner-up and Norris finishes outside seventh.

Australian Piastri, 24, requires some form of drama to happen to his rivals if he is to claim his maiden championship. He will also head into the race aware that there is a possibility he could be asked 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 seems to be striving to keep himself settled and calm as he experiences the most intense weekend of his career.

That's understandable. Although his route to the championship is relatively straightforward, the fact Verstappen's is not could render the championship 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 probably not going to be simple. The tactics Verstappen may employ to disrupt Norris's race remains unknown.

"I don't know," Norris said, when questioned if he expected Verstappen to try to slow him into the pack. "Anything is possible. So we'll find out."

Verstappen faced the identical query. His answer was to point out that such tactics are more difficult to execute now, since changes to the circuit have made it less stop-start.

"The track was configured differently," Verstappen said. "I feel like 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 that's not enough. So I just hope for some Abu Dhabi magic that happens behind me. We shall see what we get."

That remark about "Abu Dhabi magic" evokes memories of a historic race where championship fate was turned upside down by pitwall miscalculations.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, who experienced that painful race in 2010, has stressed to his team how strong their season has been and that "bumps on the road are inevitable".

As Verstappen put it: "A lot can work in your favour, can go against you, and we discover 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 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 popcorn ready."

He was also queried what he had learned about title deciders. His answer 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 build in the hours before the race.

Even Verstappen, who has appeared utterly relaxed so far, confessed to some anxiety before qualifying, but said that he fed off them to help him perform.

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

"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."

"You know 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. 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 world champions."

The stage is set. The protagonists are in position. The F1 world championship will be settled under the lights of Abu Dhabi.