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The climax to the F1 world championship is perfectly poised after the triple championship challengers qualified together at the sharp end of the starting lineup for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen put in a stunning display of the campaign – in his stellar career – to secure 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 Dutch driver on the front row.

The Briton's colleague Oscar Piastri, 16 points off the lead, will begin from third, alongside Mercedes' George Russell on the row two.

The Simple Equation for The Leader

For Norris, the equation is clear – his objective is straightforward.

The 26 year old will be champion for the first time if he secures a top-three finish, irrespective of anyone else's result.

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

The Australian Piastri, 24, requires some form of drama to befall his rivals if he is to claim his first title. He will also head into the race aware that there is a possibility he could be asked to yield position and help Norris secure the title if his own hopes are over.

What Moves Will The Challenger Play?

Norris kept his answers after qualifying fairly concise. He appears working hard to keep himself composed and focused as he experiences the biggest weekend of his career.

This is logical. Although his path to the title is seemingly simple, the fact Verstappen's is not could render 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. The tactics Verstappen may employ to get in Norris' way remains unknown.

"No idea," Norris said, when questioned if he anticipated Verstappen to try to back him into the pack. "I expect everything. So wait and see."

Verstappen was asked the identical query. His answer 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. "In my opinion now you receive a slipstream 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 Yas Marina drama that unfolds behind me. So let's see what we get."

That remark about "Abu Dhabi magic" is clearly a reference to a past race where championship fate was completely reversed by pitwall miscalculations.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, who was involved in that agonising race in 2010, has emphasised to his team the strength of their season has been and that "setbacks are inevitable".

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

There is also the potential of contact at the opening turn – a situation 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 questioned about excitement 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 answer 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 pressure will build 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 former champion Damon Hill, speaking from experience, emphasised the importance of composure.

"How to handle 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... Once you have things rattling around your head, you can't concentrate."

"You know when you lie down in bed at night, there's that moment before you go to sleep? You try sleeping when you might become 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 crossed that threshold and joined that exclusive club of title winners."

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