The F1 media and fans have been swept up in the Drivers' Championship title fight heading into the season finale, the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, but the drivers do not necessarily share that sentiment. Asked about the three-way battle, Aston Martin's Lance Stroll declared that he is "not too bothered".

After 23 rounds of the 2025 campaign, Lando Norris, Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri are separated by just 16 points, meaning the title goes down to the final race for the first time since the infamous 2021 conclusion between the Dutchman and Lewis Hamilton.

However, the enthusiasm hasn't spread to some of the drivers. "No, it's not really something I take an interest in," Aston Martin racer Stroll told the media on Thursday. "We're not a part of it. I'm not too bothered."

Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto explained that the other 17 drivers are desperate not to play a role in deciding the outcome of the fight. In 2021, a battle between Nicholas Latifi and Mick Schumacher, far out of the points, sparked the decisive late safety car.

"I'm not sure about [drivers paying more attention] qualifying because everyone is trying to do their best, we are also racing for ourselves, but in the race, definitely. If you are there, you got a blue flag, you don't want to be the reason why something happens. Let's put it in this way.

"Even if you are fighting with them, you never know, obviously, if they're fighting for the world title is because they are fighting for the win, and realistically, we are not there. Hopefully, I'm not involved, I can do my own race and finish in a good position without getting involved with that."

For Stroll and Aston Martin, there is plenty to fight for in Abu Dhabi this weekend. Team Silverstone sit seventh in the Constructors' Championship standings on 80 points, but there is potential for movement in either direction on Sunday.

Racing Bulls are 12 points ahead of Aston Martin after 23 rounds of the 2025 season, while Haas are only seven behind Lawrence Stroll's squad in eighth. Sauber are also still in the fight, five points further back in ninth. With tens of millions in prize money up for grabs, this is a critical battle to watch on Sunday.

Aston Martin were relying on two fresh faces to collect crucial data in FP1 on Friday. Stroll and team-mate Fernando Alonso both sat out the first practice session to complete the team's rookie requirements, with Jak Crawford and Cian Shields stepping behind the wheel of the AMR25.