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The finale to the Formula 1 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 put in a stunning display of the season – and of his illustrious career – to take a blistering pole position.

The McLaren driver Lando Norris, who enters the race as title leader with a twelve-point advantage over Verstappen, is next to the Dutch driver on the first row.

The British driver's colleague Oscar Piastri, 16 points behind the lead, will begin from third, with Mercedes' George Russell on the row two.

The Simple Maths for Norris

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

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

Verstappen, 28, would clinch a fifth straight title if he wins the race with Norris finishing fourth, or if he is second and Norris is lower than seventh.

Australian Piastri, 24, requires some form of drama to happen to his rivals if he is to win his first title. He will also head into the race aware that there is a possibility he might be instructed to yield position and assist Norris secure the title if his own chances have faded.

What Moves Will Verstappen Play?

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

This is logical. Although his path to the title is relatively straightforward, the fact Verstappen's is not threatens to make the points leader's race an uncomfortable one.

With the title on the line, and taking race victory 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.

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

Verstappen faced the same question. His response was to note that it would be harder to execute now, since changes to the circuit have made it more flowing.

"The track was configured differently," Verstappen stated. "In my opinion now you receive a slipstream 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 Yas Marina drama that happens behind me. So let's see what we get."

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

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

As Verstappen summarised: "Many things can work in your favour, can work against you, and we find out tomorrow."

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

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

Piastri, when asked about excitement at Turn One, remarked: "Turn One I'm not sure," he said, "{but I'll have some handy."

He was also asked what he had learned about title showdowns. His answer 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 looked relaxation personified so far, confessed to some anxiety before qualifying, but said that he used 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 speak to the engineers and try to make the car go faster... When you have things rattling around your head, you can't concentrate."

"You know when you lie down in bed at night, there's that gap before you go to sleep? You try sleeping when you might become world champion or not. Rest is essential."

"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 crossed that threshold and joined that elite group of world champions."

The scene is set. The protagonists are in position. The F1 world championship will be decided under the floodlights of Abu Dhabi.