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The finale to the F1 world championship is perfectly poised after the three title contenders secured positions at the sharp end of the grid for Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen delivered one of the performances of the campaign – in his stellar career – to take a blistering pole position.

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

The British driver's team-mate Oscar Piastri, sixteen points behind the lead, starts third, with the Mercedes of George Russell on the row two.

The Straightforward Maths for The Leader

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

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

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

Australian Piastri, 24, requires some kind of misfortune to happen to his rivals if he is to claim his first title. He also approaches the race knowing that there is a chance he could be asked to yield position and help Norris win if his own hopes are over.

What Cards Will Verstappen Play?

Norris was brief after qualifying relatively short. He seems to be striving to keep himself composed and focused as he navigates the most intense weekend of his career.

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

"I don't know," Norris said, when asked whether he expected Verstappen to try to back him into the pack. "Anything is possible. So we'll find out."

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

"The track was configured differently," Verstappen said. "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 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 "Abu Dhabi magic" evokes memories of a historic race where title destiny was turned upside down by strategy errors.

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

As Verstappen put it: "A lot can go well for you, can work against you, and we discover tomorrow."

There is also the potential of a collision at the first corner – a situation Piastri and Verstappen were involved in there last year.

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

Piastri, when asked about action at Turn One, remarked: "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 showdowns. His reply was succinct: "Funny things can happen. That's what I've learned."

Norris 'Has a Weight on His Shoulders'

For all three, and their teams, the pressure will build 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 enhance his performance.

Commentator and ex-title winner Damon Hill, speaking from experience, highlighted the importance of calmness.

"The way through 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 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."

"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 crossed that threshold and joined that elite group of title winners."

The stage is set. The contenders are lined up. The Formula 1 world championship will be decided under the floodlights of Abu Dhabi.