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The climax to the Formula 1 world championship could hardly be better set up after the triple championship challengers secured positions at the sharp end of the starting lineup for Sunday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Red Bull's Max Verstappen put in a stunning display of the campaign – in his stellar career – to take a scintillating pole position.

McLaren's Lando Norris, who heads into the race as championship favourite with a 12-point advantage over Verstappen, is alongside the Dutchman on the front row.

The Briton's colleague Oscar Piastri, 16 points behind the lead, will begin from third, with the Mercedes of 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 clinch the title for the first occasion 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 finishing fourth, or if he is second and Norris is lower than seventh.

The Australian Piastri, 24, needs some form of drama to befall his competitors if he is to claim his maiden championship. He will also head into the race knowing that there is a possibility he could be asked to move aside and assist Norris secure the title if his own hopes are over.

What Cards Will The Challenger Play?

Norris was brief after qualifying fairly concise. He appears striving to keep himself settled and calm as he navigates the most intense weekend of his career.

That's understandable. Even though his route to the championship is relatively straightforward, the fact Verstappen's is not threatens to make the championship leader's race an difficult one.

With the championship at stake, and winning the grand prix not sufficient on its own for Verstappen, the race is unlikely to be simple. What Verstappen and Red Bull might try to disrupt Norris's race is an open question.

"I don't know," Norris said, when asked whether he anticipated Verstappen to try to back him into the pack. "I expect everything. So we'll find out."

Verstappen faced the identical query. His answer was to note that such tactics are more difficult to execute now, as track modifications have made it more flowing.

"It was a different layout," Verstappen said. "I feel like now you receive a slipstream around a lot more. So it's not as easy to do that."

He added: "I want to win tomorrow, but I also know that victory alone is insufficient. So I just hope for some Abu Dhabi magic that happens behind me. So let's see what we get."

That comment about "drama at Yas Marina" is clearly a reference to a historic race where title destiny was completely reversed by strategy errors.

McLaren team principal Andrea Stella, who was involved in that painful race in 2010, has emphasised to his team the strength of their year has been and that "setbacks 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 potential of a collision at the first corner – a scenario 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 action at Turn One, remarked: "I'm uncertain about the first corner," he said, "{but I'll have some popcorn ready."

He was also queried what he had discovered about title showdowns. His reply was succinct: "Funny things can happen. That's what I've learnt."

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 looked relaxation personified so far, admitted to some anxiety before qualifying, but said that he used them to help him perform.

Commentator and ex-title winner Damon Hill, offering from experience, emphasised the critical nature of calmness.

"How to handle this is to just concentrate 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 on your mind, 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. 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 exclusive club of world champions."

The scene is set. The protagonists are lined up. The F1 world championship will be settled under the floodlights of Abu Dhabi.