🔗 Share this article

The finale to the Formula 1 drivers' title is perfectly poised after the triple championship challengers secured positions at the front of the grid for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

The Red Bull of Max Verstappen put in one of the performances of the campaign – and of his illustrious career – to secure a blistering pole position.

McLaren's Lando Norris, who heads into the race as title leader with a 12-point advantage over Verstappen, is next to the Dutch driver on the front row.

The Briton's team-mate Oscar Piastri, sixteen points behind the summit, starts 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 time if he finishes on the podium, regardless of what his rivals achieve.

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

Australian Piastri, 24, needs some form of drama to happen to his rivals if he is to win his maiden championship. He also approaches the race knowing that there is a possibility he could be asked to move aside and help Norris win if his own chances have faded.

What Moves Will The Challenger Play?

Norris was brief after qualifying relatively short. He appears striving to keep himself settled and calm as he experiences the biggest weekend of his career.

This is logical. 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 title on the line, and taking race victory not sufficient on its own for Verstappen, the race is unlikely to be simple. What Verstappen and Red Bull might try to get in Norris' way remains unknown.

"I don't know," Norris said, when questioned if he anticipated Verstappen to try to slow him into the pack. "I expect everything. So wait and see."

Verstappen was asked the identical query. His response was to point out that such tactics are more difficult to execute now, since track modifications 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: "I want to win tomorrow, but I also know that victory alone is insufficient. So I just hope for some Yas Marina drama that unfolds behind me. We shall see what we get."

That remark about "Abu Dhabi magic" is clearly a reference to a historic race where championship fate was turned upside down 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 season 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 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 conservative at the start.

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

He was also queried what he had learned about title deciders. His answer was succinct: "Unexpected events can happen. That's what I've learnt."

Norris 'Has a Weight on His Shoulders'

For each contender, and their teams, the tension will build 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 former champion Damon Hill, offering from experience, emphasised the importance of calmness.

"The way through this is to just concentrate on what you do for a living," Hill said. "You speak to the engineers and try to make the car go faster... Once 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."

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