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The climax to the Formula 1 drivers' title could hardly be better set up after the triple championship challengers secured positions at the front of the starting lineup for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen delivered one of the performances of the campaign – in his stellar career – to take a blistering pole position.

McLaren's Lando Norris, who enters the race as title leader with a 12-point advantage over Verstappen, is alongside the Dutchman on the front row.

The British driver's colleague Oscar Piastri, 16 points off the summit, will begin from third, with Mercedes' George Russell on the row two.

The Simple 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 anyone else's result.

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

Australian Piastri, 24, needs some form of drama to befall his competitors if he is to win his maiden championship. He also approaches the race knowing that there is a possibility he might be instructed to move aside and help Norris win if his own hopes are over.

What Cards Will The Challenger Play?

Norris kept his answers after qualifying fairly concise. He appears striving to keep himself settled and calm as he experiences the most intense weekend of his career.

This is logical. Although his route to the championship is seemingly simple, the fact Verstappen's is not threatens to make the points 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 unlikely to be simple. The tactics Verstappen may employ to disrupt Norris's race 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 response was to point out that it would be harder to execute now, since changes to the circuit have made it less stop-start.

"It was a different layout," Verstappen stated. "I feel like 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 unfolds 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 turned upside down by pitwall miscalculations.

McLaren boss Andrea Stella, who was involved in that painful race in 2010, has stressed to his team how strong 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 potential of a collision at the opening turn – a scenario Piastri and Verstappen were involved in there last year.

Norris, in his position, has the luxury of being able to be conservative at the start.

Piastri, when asked about action 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 reply was succinct: "Unexpected events 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 appeared utterly relaxed so far, admitted to some anxiety before qualifying, but said that he fed off them to enhance his performance.

Commentator and ex-title winner Damon Hill, speaking from experience, emphasised the critical nature of composure.

"How to handle 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... Once 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 moment before you go to sleep? You try sleeping when you can be 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 exclusive club of title winners."

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