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The climax to the F1 drivers' title is perfectly poised after the three title contenders qualified together at the sharp end of the grid for Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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

McLaren's Lando Norris, who heads into the race as championship favourite with a 12-point lead over Verstappen, is next to the Dutch driver on the front row.

The British driver's team-mate Oscar Piastri, sixteen points off the lead, will begin from third, with the Mercedes of George Russell on the second row.

The Straightforward Maths for The Leader

For Norris, the maths are simple – and the task looks the same.

The 26 year old will be champion for the first time if he finishes on the podium, irrespective of anyone else's result.

Verstappen, 28, would clinch a fifth straight title if he takes victory with Norris finishing fourth, or if he is second and Norris finishes outside seventh.

The Australian Piastri, 24, needs some form of drama to happen to his competitors if he is to claim his first title. He also approaches the race knowing that there is a possibility he might be instructed to move aside and help Norris secure the title if his own hopes are over.

What Cards Will Verstappen Play?

Norris kept his answers after qualifying fairly concise. He seems to be striving to keep himself settled and calm as he experiences the most intense weekend of his career.

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

With the championship at stake, 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.

"I don't know," Norris said, when asked whether he anticipated Verstappen to try to back him into the pack. "I expect everything. So wait and see."

Verstappen was asked the same question. His answer was to point out that such tactics are more difficult to execute now, since track modifications have made it more flowing.

"The track was configured differently," Verstappen stated. "I feel like now you receive a slipstream 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 victory alone is insufficient. So I just hope for some Abu Dhabi magic that unfolds behind me. So let's see what we get."

That remark about "Abu Dhabi magic" evokes memories of a past race where championship fate was completely reversed by strategy errors.

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 potential of a collision at the first corner – a scenario Piastri and Verstappen experienced there last year.

Norris, in his position, has the advantage of being able to be conservative at the start.

Piastri, when asked about action at Turn One, said: "Turn One I'm not sure," he said, "{but I'll have some popcorn ready."

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 nerves before qualifying, but said that he fed off them to help him perform.

Commentator and former champion Damon Hill, offering from experience, emphasised the critical nature of calmness.

"The way through this is to just concentrate 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 rattling around your head, 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."

"It's intense. 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 contenders are lined up. The F1 world championship will be decided under the lights of Abu Dhabi.