🔗 Share this article

Lando Norris has declared he is deeply satisfied of the manner in which he won his inaugural Formula One world championship, stressing after emotional celebrations with his McLaren squad and family that he was pleased to have succeeded "his way".

The champion highlighted that he feels he raced fairly and without excessive aggression, a strategy for which he has been scrutinized for lacking the often-praised "killer instinct". Norris argues that winning the title proves such an approach is unnecessary.

Norris secured the championship with a third-place finish at the season finale, edging out his rival from Red Bull by a mere two points. The Dutch driver won the race but could not erase the lead Norris held going into the last race.

"That's one of the things that I am most proud of," Norris said. "I feel like I have just been able to secure it the way I wanted to, which was not by being someone I’m not."

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

Nerve-Wracking Finale

Norris also conceded that, although he seemed calm, the closing moments were nerve-jangling.

"I felt calm until three corners to go, then I began to tremble a bit," he said. "Seeing the team after taking the flag is a memory that I’ll always remember."

A Remarkable Comeback

Norris's path to the championship involved a remarkable recovery from being 34 points behind of then-leader Oscar Piastri in the summer. A DNF in the Dutch Grand Prix served as a key turning point.

"I thought: ‘Oh, shoot. I’m in a deep hole against a seriously quick driver, and I’ve got to raise my game,’" he revealed. "I got to be more myself because of external factors, bringing in more experts in various fields to fully realize my ability."

Rival Reactions

Max Verstappen: No Regrets

Max Verstappen took only positives from his and Red Bull’s season, having mounted a comeback from a massive points gap. He believed they had done everything possible against a McLaren that was the superior package.

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

Yet, the driver reacted testily when asked about a contentious moment at the Spanish GP where a time punishment cost him critical points.

"People overlook all the other stuff that happened," Verstappen snapped. "The title is won over 24 rounds... I have also had a lot of early Christmas presents given to me."

Oscar Piastri: Lessons Learned

The visibly dejected McLaren teammate, who had led for much of the campaign, admitted he would learn from the experience.

"Obviously I would have wanted a slightly different ending," he stated. "However I think this year I’ve learned an enormous amount about myself behind the wheel and as a person... In the end there’s a little bit of disappointment but I think I can be very proud."