Lando Norris began the weekend with a dominant Friday display but Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri remain threatening.

Max Verstappen is a genuine threat to Lando Norris’ title hopes (Image: Getty)

After twenty-three Grands Prix and six more Sprint races in a nine-month slog across five continents and 21 countries, it all comes down to this. The decider in the desert. Fifty-three laps, probably over less than two hours, to decide whether either Lando Norris or Oscar Piastri can fulfil their childhood dreams, or if the juggernaut that is Max Verstappen will continue to crush everything in its path.

On Sunday, Abu Dhabi’s Yas Marina Circuit will host only its second ever title showdown including more than two drivers. The other was in 2010, when a Red Bull driver who hadn’t led the championship all season leapfrogged his rivals on the final day to snatch the glory. Make no mistake, Verstappen is out to repeat Sebastian Vettel’s accomplishment again.

A late-season surge, helped by two huge McLaren blunders in Las Vegas and Qatar, has remarkably put the Dutchman back into contention. Only three months ago, he was 104 points off the lead and had cancelled any tentative title celebration plans that had been put in place. He arrived in the UAE this week just 12 behind Norris and has not only all the momentum but also invaluable experience as a four-time champion behind him.

Friday practice isn’t always particularly relevant to the rest of the weekend’s results and that is especially true this year with Red Bull. Verstappen has spent most of his Fridays whingeing about, well, everything. So it is perhaps ominous for his rivals that there wasn’t much for the four-time champion to moan about.

“I was fairly happy with the car,” he said at the end of yesterday’s running, clearly unwilling to give too much away. And sure enough he added: “We’re still not quick enough. The ride is a constant fight, but that’s nothing new. It’s a decent gap that we need to close and single lap and long run pace need to be better.”

Oscar Piastri is playing catch-up in Abu Dhabi (Image: Getty)

Verstappen was not the only one choosing his words very carefully. Norris had, on paper, the perfect Friday – topping the timesheets at the end of both hour-long sessions. FP1 meant little as it took place in daylight and there were nine rookies on track, but the second hour was the most representative of what qualifying conditions will be like under the lights.

The Brit’s best effort was more than three-and-a-half tenths quicker than that of Verstappen. And team-mate Piastri, having missed the first session, was way down in 11th with double that gap to try to close in qualifying today.

Pausing for six whole seconds before answering a simple question about how his day had gone, Norris eventually said: “There’s nothing to smile about just yet. Obviously, from the times, things are good at the minute. I still want a bit more from the car, I’m still not completely happy or confident.”

Norris was also quick to dismiss the suggestion that he has an advantage over his team-mate who had only half the amount of track time yesterday. Naturally, Piastri disagreed. The Aussie said: “The car has looked quick but I need to get some more lap times under my belt and find my feet a bit more.”

Most bookies can’t decide whether Verstappen or Norris is the favourite to win Sunday’s race. But, in truth, it’s probably the most inconsequential victory of the year. Because even if Verstappen takes pole and wins by a country mile, it means nothing if Norris joins him on the podium.

Norris does not need to beat either of his rivals on the day to be crowned champion. Sunday is about winning the war, not necessarily the battle.