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The climax to the F1 drivers' title could hardly be better set up after the three title contenders qualified together at the front of the grid for Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen delivered one of the performances of the campaign – and of his illustrious career – to take a blistering 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 colleague Oscar Piastri, sixteen points behind the lead, starts third, alongside Mercedes' George Russell on the row two.

The Straightforward Maths for The Leader

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

The 26 year old will clinch the title 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 wins the race with Norris in fourth, or if he is runner-up and Norris finishes outside seventh.

Australian Piastri, 24, needs some form of drama to happen to his competitors if he is to win his first title. He also approaches the race aware that there is a possibility he might be instructed to yield position and assist Norris secure the title if his own hopes are over.

What Cards Will Verstappen Play?

Norris was brief after qualifying relatively short. He appears working hard to keep himself composed and focused as he experiences the most intense weekend of his career.

That's understandable. Although his route to the championship 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 winning the grand prix not sufficient on its own for Verstappen, the race is probably not going 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 expected Verstappen to try to slow him into the pack. "I expect everything. So wait and see."

Verstappen was asked the identical query. His answer 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 stated. "In my opinion 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 Abu Dhabi magic that unfolds behind me. So let's see what we get."

That comment about "Abu Dhabi magic" is clearly a reference to a past race where title destiny was completely reversed by pitwall miscalculations.

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

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

There is also the potential of a collision at the first corner – a situation Piastri and Verstappen experienced there last year.

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

Piastri, when asked about action at Turn One, remarked: "Turn One I'm not sure," he said, "{but I'll have some handy."

He was also queried what he had learned about title showdowns. 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 tension will mount 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 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 focus on what you do for a living," Hill said. "You speak to 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 can be world champion or not. You need sleep."

"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 elite group of world champions."

The scene is prepared. The protagonists are lined up. The F1 world championship will be decided under the floodlights of Abu Dhabi.