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The British racing driver stated he is deeply satisfied of the manner in which he won his first-ever Formula One world championship, stressing after a heartfelt victory lap with his team and family that he was happy to have triumphed "in his own style".

Norris underscored that he believes he competed fairly and without excessive aggression, a strategy for which he has been scrutinized for lacking the often-praised "killer instinct". He maintains that winning the title demonstrates such an approach is unnecessary.

Norris secured the championship with a third-place finish at the season finale, beating Red Bull's Max Verstappen by a narrow margin. The Dutch driver won the race but could not overcome the lead the McLaren driver held entering the last race.

"This is an aspect that makes me most proud," Norris said. "I believe I have just managed to win it the way I aimed to, which was not by being someone I’m not."

Norris added, "Choosing not to be as combative as Max or as assertive as other title-winners might have been historically, I’m happy. I just won it my way – by being a sportsmanlike driver, by trying to be an respectful driver."

A Tense Conclusion

The champion admitted that, despite appearances, the closing moments were nerve-jangling.

"I was composed until three corners to go, then I started to shake a bit," he said. "Then I got to see the team after taking the flag is a memory that I’ll always remember."

An Incredible Turnaround

Norris's path to the title involved a remarkable recovery from being far adrift of then-leader Oscar Piastri in August. A mechanical failure in Zandvoort served as a key turning point.

"I thought: ‘Oh no. I’m quite a long way behind against a seriously quick driver, and I’ve got to step it up,’" he revealed. "I got to be more myself because of external factors, bringing in more experts in various fields to unlock more of my ability."

Rival Reactions

Max Verstappen: No Regrets

The reigning champion focused on the good from his and Red Bull’s season, having fought back from a massive points gap. He believed they had done everything possible against a papaya car that was often the faster package.

"Yeah, I think so, I have zero regrets about my season," Verstappen stated. "The performance has been strong. I’ve struggled with this car at times, but I’ve also loved it at times."

However, the Dutchman reacted testily when asked about a controversial incident at the Spanish GP where a time punishment lost him critical points.

"You forget all the other events that happened," he retorted. "The title is won over a full season... I have also had a lot of lucky breaks come my way."

Oscar Piastri: Lessons Learned

The visibly dejected Oscar Piastri, who had led for much of the season, reflected he would learn from the defeat.

"Naturally I would have wished for a slightly different ending," Piastri said. "But I think this year I’ve learned a hell of a lot about myself behind the wheel and off the track... In the end there’s a little bit of disappointment but I think I can be very proud."