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The finale to the Formula 1 world championship is perfectly poised after the triple championship challengers qualified together at the front of the grid for Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Red Bull of 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 heads into the race as championship favourite with a twelve-point lead over Verstappen, is alongside the Dutchman on the first row.

The Briton's colleague Oscar Piastri, sixteen points behind the summit, will begin from third, with Mercedes' George Russell on the row two.

The Straightforward Maths for Norris

For Norris, the maths are simple – 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, would clinch a fifth consecutive title if he wins the race with Norris in fourth, or if he is runner-up and Norris finishes outside seventh.

The Australian Piastri, 24, requires some form of drama to befall his rivals if he is to win his maiden championship. He will also head into the race knowing that there is a chance he might be instructed to move aside and assist 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 striving to keep himself settled and calm 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 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 probably not going to be simple. The tactics Verstappen may employ to disrupt Norris's race remains unknown.

"I don't know," Norris said, when questioned if he expected Verstappen to try to back him into the pack. "Anything is possible. So wait and see."

Verstappen was asked the identical query. His response was to point out that it would be harder to execute now, as track modifications have made it less stop-start.

"The track was configured differently," Verstappen said. "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 that's not enough. So I just hope for some Yas Marina drama that happens behind me. So let's see what we get."

That comment about "drama at Yas Marina" evokes memories of a historic race where title destiny was turned upside down by pitwall miscalculations.

McLaren boss Andrea Stella, who experienced that painful race in 2010, has emphasised to his team the strength of their season has been and that "bumps on the road are unavoidable".

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 contact at the opening turn – a situation Piastri and Verstappen were involved in there last year.

Norris, in his favourable position, has the advantage of being able to be conservative 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 reply was succinct: "Unexpected events can happen. That's what I've learnt."

Norris 'Has a Weight 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, admitted to some anxiety before qualifying, but said that he fed off them to enhance his performance.

Commentator and former champion Damon Hill, speaking from experience, emphasised the critical nature 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... 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 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 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 stage is set. The contenders are in position. The F1 world championship will be decided under the floodlights of Abu Dhabi.