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

The Red Bull of Max Verstappen delivered one of the performances of the season – and of his illustrious career – to take a scintillating pole position.

The McLaren driver Lando Norris, who heads into the race as title leader with a 12-point advantage over Verstappen, is next to the Dutch driver on the front row.

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

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 occasion if he secures a top-three finish, irrespective of anyone else's result.

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

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

What Moves Will Verstappen Play?

Norris was brief after qualifying fairly concise. He seems to be working hard to keep himself composed and focused as he navigates the most intense weekend of his career.

That's understandable. Even though his route to the championship is seemingly simple, the fact Verstappen's is not threatens to make the championship leader's race an difficult one.

With the championship at stake, and taking race victory not sufficient on its own for Verstappen, the race is unlikely to be simple. The tactics Verstappen may employ 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. "Anything is possible. 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 more flowing.

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

That remark about "drama at Yas Marina" evokes memories of a historic race where championship fate was completely reversed by strategy errors.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, who experienced that painful race in 2010, has emphasised to his team how strong their year has been and that "setbacks are inevitable".

As Verstappen put it: "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 situation 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 excitement at Turn One, said: "Turn One I'm not sure," he said, "{but I'll have some handy."

He was also queried 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 all three, and their teams, the tension will mount in the hours before the race.

Even Verstappen, who has appeared utterly relaxed so far, confessed to some nerves before qualifying, but said that he used them to enhance his performance.

Commentator and ex-title winner Damon Hill, offering 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 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. 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 exclusive club of title winners."

The stage is set. The protagonists are in position. The Formula 1 world championship will be decided under the floodlights of Abu Dhabi.