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The finale to the Formula 1 world championship is perfectly poised after the triple championship challengers qualified together 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 campaign – and of his illustrious career – to secure a scintillating pole position.

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

The British driver's colleague Oscar Piastri, sixteen points behind the summit, will begin from third, alongside Mercedes' George Russell on the second row.

The Simple Maths for Norris

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

The 26 year old will be champion for the first occasion if he finishes on the podium, irrespective of what his rivals achieve.

Verstappen, 28, would clinch a fifth straight title if he takes victory with Norris in fourth, or if he is second and Norris finishes outside 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 aware that there is a possibility he might be instructed to move aside and help Norris secure the title if his own chances have faded.

What Cards Will The Challenger Play?

Norris kept his answers after qualifying fairly concise. He appears working hard to keep himself composed and focused as he navigates the most intense weekend of his career.

This is logical. Although his route to the championship is seemingly simple, the fact Verstappen's is not threatens to make the championship leader's race an difficult 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. The tactics Verstappen may employ 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. "Anything is possible. So wait and see."

Verstappen faced the identical query. His response was to note that it would be harder to execute now, since changes to the circuit have made it less stop-start.

"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 added: "I want to win tomorrow, but I also know that victory alone is insufficient. So I just hope for some Yas Marina drama that unfolds behind me. So let's see what we get."

That remark about "drama at Yas Marina" evokes memories of a past race where championship fate was completely reversed by strategy errors.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, who experienced that painful race in 2010, has stressed to his team the strength of 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 discover tomorrow."

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

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

Piastri, when asked about excitement at Turn One, said: "I'm uncertain about the first corner," he said, "{but I'll have some handy."

He was also queried what he had discovered about title deciders. His answer was succinct: "Unexpected events can happen. That's what I've learned."

Norris 'Has a Weight on His Shoulders'

For each contender, 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, speaking from experience, highlighted the importance of composure.

"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."

"It's like when you lie down in bed at night, there's that moment before you go to sleep? You try sleeping when you might become world champion or not. Rest is essential."

"The pressure is immense. 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 prepared. The contenders are lined up. The F1 world championship will be decided under the floodlights of Abu Dhabi.