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The climax to the F1 world championship 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.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen put in a stunning display of the season – in his stellar career – to secure a scintillating pole position.

McLaren's Lando Norris, who heads into the race as championship favourite with a 12-point lead over Verstappen, is alongside the Dutch driver on the front row.

The British driver's colleague Oscar Piastri, 16 points behind the lead, starts third, alongside Mercedes' George Russell on the second row.

The Straightforward Equation for The Leader

For Norris, the equation is clear – his objective is straightforward.

The 26 year old will be champion for the first time if he secures a top-three finish, regardless of what his rivals achieve.

Verstappen, 28, could secure a fifth consecutive title if he takes victory with Norris finishing fourth, or if he is runner-up and Norris is lower than seventh.

The Australian Piastri, 24, requires some form of drama to happen to his rivals if he is to win his first title. He also approaches the race knowing that there is a chance he might be instructed to yield position and assist Norris secure the title if his own hopes are over.

What Moves Will Verstappen Play?

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

This is logical. Although his path to the title is seemingly simple, the fact Verstappen's is not could render 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 back him into the pack. "I expect everything. So wait and see."

Verstappen faced the same question. 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. "In my opinion now you receive a slipstream 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 victory alone is insufficient. So I just hope for some Abu Dhabi magic that happens behind me. We shall see what we get."

That remark about "drama at Yas Marina" is clearly a reference to a historic race where championship fate was completely reversed by strategy errors.

McLaren boss Andrea Stella, who experienced that painful race in 2010, has emphasised to his team the strength of their season has been and that "setbacks are inevitable".

As Verstappen summarised: "A lot can work in your favour, can work against you, and we find out tomorrow."

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

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

Piastri, when questioned about excitement at Turn One, said: "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 'Has a Weight on His Shoulders'

For all three, 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 anxiety before qualifying, but said that he used them to enhance his performance.

Commentator and former champion Damon Hill, offering from experience, highlighted the importance of calmness.

"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."

"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. 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 made it and joined that elite group of title winners."

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