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The climax to the F1 world championship is perfectly poised after the three title contenders qualified together at the front of the grid for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Red Bull of Max Verstappen delivered a stunning display of the campaign – and of his illustrious career – to secure a blistering pole position.

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

The British driver's colleague Oscar Piastri, 16 points off the lead, starts third, with the Mercedes of George Russell on the second row.

The Straightforward 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 secures a top-three finish, irrespective of what his rivals achieve.

Verstappen, 28, could secure a fifth consecutive title if he wins the race with Norris finishing fourth, or if he is runner-up and Norris finishes outside seventh.

Australian Piastri, 24, needs some kind of misfortune to befall his rivals if he is to claim his first title. He also approaches the race knowing 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 The Challenger Play?

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

That's understandable. Although his route to the championship is seemingly simple, the fact Verstappen's is not could render the points leader's race an uncomfortable one.

With the title on the line, and taking race victory 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 is an open question.

"No idea," Norris said, when questioned if he expected Verstappen to try to slow 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, since track modifications have made it more flowing.

"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 continued: "I want to win tomorrow, but I also know that that's not enough. So I just hope for some Abu Dhabi magic that happens behind me. We shall see what we get."

That remark about "Abu Dhabi magic" evokes memories of a historic 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 how strong their year has been and that "bumps on the road are inevitable".

As Verstappen put it: "A lot can work in your favour, can work against you, and we discover tomorrow."

There is also the potential of contact at the opening turn – a situation Piastri and Verstappen experienced there last year.

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

Piastri, when asked about excitement at Turn One, remarked: "I'm uncertain about the first corner," he said, "{but I'll have some popcorn ready."

He was also asked what he had learned about title deciders. His answer was succinct: "Funny things can happen. That's what I've learnt."

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 looked relaxation personified so far, confessed to some nerves before qualifying, but said that he used them to help him perform.

Commentator and former champion Damon Hill, speaking from experience, emphasised the importance of calmness.

"How to handle this is to just focus 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 might become 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 title winners."

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