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The British racing driver stated he is immensely proud of the approach in which he won his first-ever Formula One drivers' title, stressing after emotional celebrations with his team and family that he was pleased to have triumphed "in his own style".

Norris underscored that he believes he competed fairly and without being overly forceful, a strategy for which he has faced criticism for lacking the much-discussed "ruthless edge". He maintains that winning the title demonstrates such an approach is unnecessary.

Norris wrapped up the championship with a P3 finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, beating his rival from Red Bull by a narrow margin. The Dutch driver took the checkered flag but could not erase the 12-point advantage the McLaren driver held entering the last race.

"This is an aspect that makes me most proud," he commented. "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, "Not trying to be as aggressive as Max or as forceful as other champions might have been in the past, I’m content. I just won it my way – by being a fair driver, by trying to be an honest driver."

A Tense Conclusion

The champion admitted that, despite appearances, the final laps were incredibly tense.

"I felt calm until the very end, then I began to tremble a bit," he recalled. "Seeing the team after taking the flag is a moment that I’ll never forget."

A Remarkable Comeback

Norris's path to the title involved a stunning comeback from being far adrift of his teammate in August. A DNF in Zandvoort served as a key turning point.

"I thought: ‘Oh no. I’m quite a long way behind against a pretty freaking fast driver, and I’ve got to raise my game,’" Norris explained. "I had to become more myself due to external factors, bringing in more professionals in different areas to fully realize my potential."

Rival Reactions

The Red Bull Driver's View

Max Verstappen took only positives from his and Red Bull’s performances, having mounted a comeback from a 104‑point deficit. Verstappen felt they had given their all against a McLaren that was often the faster package.

"Yes, absolutely, I have no regrets about my season," Verstappen stated. "The performance has been impressive. I’ve struggled with this car at times, but I’ve also loved it at times."

However, the Dutchman reacted testily when questioned about a contentious moment at the Spanish GP where a penalty cost him valuable points.

"You forget all the other events that happened," Verstappen snapped. "A championship is won over 24 rounds... I have also had a lot of early Christmas presents given to me."

Oscar Piastri: Lessons Learned

A clearly disappointed McLaren teammate, who had led for much of the campaign, admitted he would emerge stronger the defeat.

"Obviously I would have wished for a different ending," he stated. "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 touch of disappointment but I think I can be extremely pleased."