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

Red Bull's Max Verstappen delivered one of the performances of the season – and of his illustrious career – to take a blistering pole position.

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

The British driver's colleague Oscar Piastri, 16 points off the summit, starts third, alongside Mercedes' George Russell on the row two.

The Straightforward Equation for Norris

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

The 26 year old will be champion for the first time if he secures a top-three finish, regardless of what his rivals achieve.

Verstappen, 28, could secure a fifth straight title if he takes victory with Norris in fourth, or if he is runner-up and Norris is lower than seventh.

The Australian Piastri, 24, requires some kind of misfortune to befall his rivals if he is to claim his maiden championship. He will also head into the race knowing that there is a chance he might be instructed to yield position and assist Norris secure the title if his own hopes are over.

What Moves Will Verstappen Play?

Norris kept his answers after qualifying fairly concise. He appears working hard to keep himself composed and focused as he experiences the biggest weekend of his career.

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

With the title on the line, and winning the grand prix not good enough on its own for Verstappen, the race is unlikely to be simple. What Verstappen and Red Bull might try to disrupt Norris's race remains unknown.

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

Verstappen faced the identical query. His response was to point out that such tactics are more difficult to execute now, as track modifications have made it less stop-start.

"The track was configured differently," Verstappen said. "In my opinion now you receive a slipstream around a lot more. So it's not as easy to do that."

He added: "My goal is victory on Sunday, but I also know that that's not enough. So I just hope for some Abu Dhabi magic that happens behind me. So let's see what we get."

That comment about "Abu Dhabi magic" is clearly a reference to a historic race where championship fate was completely reversed by pitwall miscalculations.

McLaren boss Andrea Stella, who was involved in that painful race in 2010, has stressed to his team the strength of their year has been and that "setbacks are unavoidable".

As Verstappen put it: "Many things can go well for you, can work against you, and we find out tomorrow."

There is also the possibility of contact at the opening turn – 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 questioned about excitement at Turn One, said: "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 showdowns. His answer was succinct: "Unexpected events can happen. That's what I've learnt."

Norris 'Carries the Burden on His Shoulders'

For each contender, 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 used them to help him perform.

Commentator and ex-title winner Damon Hill, offering from experience, emphasised the importance of composure.

"The way through 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... 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. Rest is essential."

"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 elite group of title winners."

The stage is set. The protagonists are in position. The Formula 1 world championship will be decided under the lights of Abu Dhabi.