🔗 Share this article

The climax to the F1 world championship is perfectly poised after the triple championship challengers qualified together at the front of the starting lineup for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

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

The McLaren driver Lando Norris, who enters the race as championship favourite with a twelve-point advantage over Verstappen, is alongside the Dutchman on the front row.

The Briton's colleague Oscar Piastri, 16 points behind the summit, starts third, alongside the Mercedes of George Russell on the second row.

The Straightforward Equation 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 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 finishing fourth, or if he is second and Norris finishes outside seventh.

The Australian Piastri, 24, needs some form of drama to befall his competitors if he is to claim his first title. He also approaches the race aware that there is a chance he might be instructed to yield position and help Norris win if his own hopes are over.

What Moves Will The Challenger Play?

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

This is logical. Although 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 championship at stake, and taking race victory not good enough on its own for Verstappen, the race is unlikely to be simple. The tactics Verstappen may employ to get in Norris' way is an open question.

"No idea," Norris said, when questioned if 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 answer was to point out that it would be harder to execute now, since track modifications have made it less stop-start.

"It was a different layout," Verstappen said. "I feel like now you get towed 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 that's not enough. So I just hope for some Abu Dhabi magic that unfolds behind me. So let's see what we get."

That remark about "drama at Yas Marina" evokes memories of a past race where championship fate was turned upside down by pitwall miscalculations.

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

As Verstappen summarised: "A lot can go well for you, can work against you, and we find out tomorrow."

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

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

Piastri, when questioned about excitement 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 discovered about title deciders. His answer was succinct: "Funny things can happen. That's what I've learnt."

Norris 'Has a Weight on His Shoulders'

For each contender, and their teams, the pressure 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 ex-title winner Damon Hill, speaking from experience, emphasised the importance of composure.

"How to handle 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 on your mind, 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 can be 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 exclusive club of title winners."

The scene is prepared. The protagonists are lined up. The Formula 1 world championship will be decided under the floodlights of Abu Dhabi.