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The finale to the F1 drivers' title is perfectly poised after the triple championship challengers qualified together at the sharp end of the starting lineup for Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen delivered 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 championship favourite with a twelve-point advantage over Verstappen, is alongside the Dutch driver on the first row.

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

The Straightforward Maths for Norris

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

The 26-year-old will be champion for the first occasion if he finishes on the podium, irrespective of anyone else's result.

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

The Australian Piastri, 24, needs some kind of misfortune 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 chance he could be asked to move aside and assist Norris win 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 settled and calm as he experiences the biggest weekend of his career.

That's understandable. Even though his path to the title is seemingly simple, the fact Verstappen's is not could render 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 unlikely to be simple. What Verstappen and Red Bull might try to get in Norris' way remains unknown.

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

Verstappen faced the same question. His answer was to note that it would be harder to execute now, as changes to the circuit have made it less stop-start.

"The track was configured differently," Verstappen stated. "I feel like now you receive a slipstream around a lot more. So it's not as easy to do that."

He added: "My goal is victory on Sunday, but I also know that that's not enough. So I just hope for some Yas Marina drama that happens behind me. So let's see what we get."

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

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

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

There is also the potential of contact at the first corner – a situation Piastri and Verstappen were involved in 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, remarked: "I'm uncertain about the first corner," he said, "{but I'll have some popcorn ready."

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

Norris 'Carries the Burden 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, confessed to some anxiety before qualifying, but said that he used them to help him perform.

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

"The way through this is to just concentrate 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 can be world champion or not. Rest is essential."

"It's intense. 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 scene is set. The contenders are lined up. The F1 world championship will be settled under the lights of Abu Dhabi.