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

The Red Bull of Max Verstappen put in one of the performances of the campaign – in his stellar career – to secure a scintillating pole position.

The McLaren driver Lando Norris, who enters the race as championship favourite with a 12-point advantage over Verstappen, is next to the Dutch driver on the front row.

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

The Simple Maths for The Leader

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

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

Verstappen, 28, could secure a fifth consecutive title if he wins the race with Norris finishing fourth, or if he is second and Norris is lower than seventh.

The Australian Piastri, 24, requires some form of drama to happen to his competitors if he is to claim his maiden championship. He will also head into the race knowing that there is a possibility he could be asked to yield position and assist 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 navigates the most intense weekend of his career.

This is logical. Even though his route to the championship is relatively straightforward, the fact Verstappen's is not threatens to make the points leader's race an difficult one.

With the title on the line, and winning the grand prix 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 is an open question.

"I don't know," Norris said, when asked whether he expected Verstappen to try to back 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 more flowing.

"It was a different layout," Verstappen said. "In my opinion now you receive a slipstream 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 victory alone is insufficient. So I just hope for some Yas Marina drama that happens 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 turned upside down by strategy errors.

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

As Verstappen summarised: "Many things can go well for you, can go against you, and we discover 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 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 asked 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 all three, and their teams, the tension will build 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.

"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 rattling around your head, 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 carries a burden on his shoulders... on Sunday he'll know whether he has crossed that threshold and joined that elite group of world champions."

The scene is prepared. The contenders are in position. The Formula 1 world championship will be decided under the lights of Abu Dhabi.