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The finale to the F1 world championship could hardly be better set up after the triple championship challengers qualified together at the front of the starting lineup for Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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

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

The British driver's team-mate Oscar Piastri, 16 points off the lead, starts third, with Mercedes' George Russell on the second row.

The Simple Equation for The Leader

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, regardless of what his rivals achieve.

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 kind of misfortune to happen to his competitors if he is to win his maiden championship. He will also head into the race aware that there is a chance he could be asked to move aside and assist Norris win if his own hopes are over.

What Cards Will Verstappen Play?

Norris kept his answers after qualifying fairly concise. He appears 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 seemingly simple, the fact Verstappen's is not threatens to make the championship leader's race an difficult one.

With the title on the line, and winning the grand prix not sufficient on its own for Verstappen, the race is probably not going to be simple. The tactics Verstappen may employ to get in Norris' way remains unknown.

"I don't know," Norris said, when questioned if he anticipated Verstappen to try to back him into the pack. "I expect everything. So wait and see."

Verstappen was asked the same question. His answer was to note that such tactics are more difficult to execute now, as track modifications 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 continued: "I want to win tomorrow, but I also know that victory alone is insufficient. So I just hope for some Abu Dhabi magic that happens behind me. So let's see what we get."

That comment about "drama at Yas Marina" evokes memories of a historic race where title destiny was completely reversed by pitwall miscalculations.

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

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

There is also the potential of contact at the first corner – 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 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 reply was succinct: "Funny things can happen. That's what I've learnt."

Norris 'Carries the Burden on His Shoulders'

For each contender, and their teams, the pressure will mount 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 importance of composure.

"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 gap before you go to sleep? You try sleeping when you might become world champion or not. You need sleep."

"The pressure is immense. 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 exclusive club of world champions."

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