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The climax to the Formula 1 world championship is perfectly poised after the three title contenders secured positions at the sharp end of the starting lineup for Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Red Bull of Max Verstappen put in one of the performances of the season – in his stellar career – to secure a scintillating pole position.

The McLaren driver Lando Norris, who enters the race as championship favourite with a 12-point advantage over Verstappen, is alongside the Dutch driver on the front row.

The Briton's colleague Oscar Piastri, sixteen points off the lead, starts third, alongside the Mercedes of George Russell on the row two.

The Straightforward Equation for The Leader

For Norris, the maths are simple – and the task looks the same.

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 finishes outside seventh.

The Australian Piastri, 24, needs some form of drama to befall his competitors if he is to claim his first title. He will also head into the race knowing that there is a chance he might be instructed to yield position and help Norris win if his own chances have faded.

What Moves Will Verstappen Play?

Norris kept his answers after qualifying relatively short. He appears working hard to keep himself settled and calm as he navigates the most intense weekend of his career.

This is logical. Although his path to the title is relatively straightforward, the fact Verstappen's is not threatens to make the championship leader's race an uncomfortable one.

With the title on the line, 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 asked whether he anticipated Verstappen to try to slow him into the pack. "Anything is possible. So wait and see."

Verstappen faced the same question. His response was to note that such tactics are more difficult to execute now, as changes to the circuit have made it more flowing.

"It was a different layout," 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 victory alone is insufficient. So I just hope for some Abu Dhabi magic that happens behind me. We shall see what we get."

That comment about "Abu Dhabi magic" is clearly a reference to a historic race where championship fate was turned upside down by strategy errors.

McLaren boss 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 unavoidable".

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

There is also the possibility of contact at the opening turn – a scenario 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 popcorn ready."

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

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

Commentator and former champion Damon Hill, speaking from experience, highlighted the critical nature 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."

"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."

"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 lined up. The Formula 1 world championship will be decided under the lights of Abu Dhabi.