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The climax to the F1 drivers' title could hardly be better set up after the three title contenders secured positions at the front of the grid 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 blistering pole position.

McLaren's Lando Norris, who enters the race as title leader with a 12-point advantage over Verstappen, is next to the Dutchman on the first row.

The Briton's team-mate Oscar Piastri, 16 points off the lead, starts third, alongside Mercedes' George Russell on the second row.

The Straightforward Equation for Norris

For Norris, the equation is clear – and the task looks the same.

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

Australian Piastri, 24, requires 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 chance he might be instructed 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 relatively short. He seems to be working hard to keep himself settled and calm as he experiences the biggest weekend of his career.

This is logical. Even though his path to the title is relatively straightforward, the fact Verstappen's is not could render the points leader's race an difficult one.

With the championship at stake, and winning the grand prix not good enough 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.

"No idea," Norris said, when questioned if he expected Verstappen to try to slow him into the pack. "I expect everything. So we'll find out."

Verstappen faced the same question. His response 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 get towed 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 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" 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 agonising 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: "A lot can work in your favour, can go against you, and we find out tomorrow."

There is also the potential of a collision 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, remarked: "I'm uncertain about the first corner," he said, "{but I'll have some handy."

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

Norris 'Carries the Burden on His Shoulders'

For all three, and their teams, the pressure will mount in the hours before the race.

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

Commentator and ex-title winner Damon Hill, offering from experience, emphasised the importance 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 on your mind, you can't concentrate."

"It's like 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."

"The pressure is immense. It's what you've always wanted. Lando carries a burden on his shoulders... on Sunday he'll know whether he has made it and joined that exclusive club of world champions."

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