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The British racing driver stated he is immensely proud of the approach in which he won his inaugural Formula One drivers' title, emphasizing after a heartfelt victory lap with his McLaren squad and family that he was happy to have succeeded "his way".

The champion highlighted that he feels he raced fairly and without being overly forceful, a philosophy for which he has faced criticism for not displaying the much-discussed "killer instinct". Norris argues that securing the championship demonstrates such an approach is not essential.

The 26-year-old secured the title with a P3 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 overcome the 12-point advantage Norris held entering the final round.

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

Norris added, "Choosing not to be as aggressive as Max or as assertive as other champions might have been historically, I’m happy. I just did it my style – by being a fair driver, by trying to be an honest driver."

A Tense Conclusion

Norris also conceded that, despite appearances, the closing moments were nerve-jangling.

"I was composed until the very end, then I began to tremble a bit," he said. "Seeing the team when I crossed the line is a moment that I’ll never forget."

An Incredible Turnaround

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

"I thought: ‘Oh no. I’m in a deep hole against a seriously quick driver, and I’ve got to raise my game,’" Norris explained. "I got to be more myself because of external factors, bringing in more experts in different areas to fully realize my ability."

Competitors' Responses

The Red Bull Driver's View

The reigning champion focused on the good from his team's season, having mounted a comeback from a massive points gap. He believed they had done everything possible against a papaya car that was the superior package.

"Yes, absolutely, I have zero regrets about my season," Verstappen stated. "Our pace has been impressive. I’ve struggled with this car at times, but I’ve also loved it at times."

Yet, the driver responded tersely when questioned about a controversial incident at the Barcelona race where a penalty cost him critical points.

"People overlook all the other stuff that happened," he retorted. "A championship is won over a full season... I have also had a lot of early Christmas presents given to me."

Oscar Piastri: Lessons Learned

A clearly disappointed McLaren teammate, who was in front for much of the season, admitted he would learn from the defeat.

"Obviously I would have wanted a different ending," Piastri said. "But 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 touch of disappointment but I think I can be extremely pleased."