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The climax to the Formula 1 world championship is perfectly poised after the triple championship challengers secured positions at the front of the grid for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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

The McLaren driver Lando Norris, who heads into the race as championship favourite with a twelve-point advantage over Verstappen, is alongside the Dutchman on the first row.

The British driver's colleague Oscar Piastri, sixteen points off the summit, starts third, alongside Mercedes' George Russell on the second row.

The Simple Maths for Norris

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

The 26-year-old will clinch the title for the first occasion if he secures a top-three finish, irrespective of what his rivals achieve.

Verstappen, 28, could secure a fifth straight title if he wins the race with Norris in fourth, or if he is second and Norris is lower than seventh.

Australian Piastri, 24, requires some form of drama to happen to his rivals if he is to win his maiden championship. He will also head into the race aware that there is a chance he might be instructed to yield position and assist Norris secure the title if his own hopes are over.

What Moves Will Verstappen Play?

Norris kept his answers after qualifying relatively short. He appears striving to keep himself settled and calm as he experiences the biggest weekend of his career.

That's understandable. Although his path to the title is relatively straightforward, the fact Verstappen's is not threatens to make the points leader's race an difficult one.

With the championship at stake, 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 get in Norris' way is an open question.

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

Verstappen faced the identical query. His answer was to note that it would be harder to execute now, as track modifications have made it less stop-start.

"The track was configured differently," Verstappen stated. "In my opinion now you get towed around a lot more. So it's not as easy to do that."

He added: "I want to win tomorrow, but I also know that victory alone is insufficient. So I just hope for some Yas Marina drama that unfolds behind me. We shall see what we get."

That remark 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 experienced that agonising race in 2010, has stressed to his team the strength of their year has been and that "bumps on the road are inevitable".

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

There is also the possibility of contact at the first corner – 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 questioned about action 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 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 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 former champion Damon Hill, speaking from experience, highlighted the importance 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... 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 might become 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 crossed that threshold and joined that exclusive club of title winners."

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