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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 one of the performances 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 next to the Dutch driver on the front row.

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

The Straightforward 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 time if he finishes on the podium, irrespective of what his rivals achieve.

Verstappen, 28, could secure a fifth straight title if he takes victory with Norris in fourth, or if he is second and Norris finishes outside seventh.

The Australian Piastri, 24, requires some form of drama to happen to his competitors if he is to win his first title. He will also head into the race aware that there is a chance he could be asked to move aside and help Norris secure the title if his own hopes are over.

What Cards Will Verstappen Play?

Norris kept his answers after qualifying fairly concise. He appears working hard to keep himself settled and calm as he navigates the biggest weekend of his career.

This is logical. 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 title on the line, and winning the grand prix not good enough on its own for Verstappen, the race is unlikely to be simple. The tactics Verstappen may employ to disrupt Norris's race is an open question.

"I don't know," Norris said, when questioned if he anticipated Verstappen to try to slow him into the pack. "Anything is possible. So wait and see."

Verstappen was asked the identical query. His response was to note that it would be harder to execute now, as track modifications have made it more flowing.

"The track was configured differently," Verstappen said. "In my opinion 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 completely reversed by strategy errors.

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

As Verstappen put it: "A lot can go well for you, can go against you, and we discover tomorrow."

There is also the possibility of contact 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 cautious at the start.

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

He was also queried what he had learned about title deciders. His reply was succinct: "Funny things can happen. That's what I've learnt."

Norris 'Carries the Burden 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, admitted to some nerves before qualifying, but said that he used them to enhance his performance.

Commentator and former champion Damon Hill, offering from experience, emphasised the critical nature 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 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."

"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 elite group of world champions."

The scene is prepared. The protagonists are lined up. The Formula 1 world championship will be decided under the floodlights of Abu Dhabi.