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The British racing driver stated he is immensely proud of the manner in which he won his inaugural Formula One world championship, stressing after a heartfelt victory lap with his team 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 not displaying the often-praised "killer instinct". He maintains that securing the title demonstrates such an mentality is unnecessary.

The 26-year-old wrapped up the championship with a P3 finish at the season finale, beating his rival from Red Bull by a mere two points. Verstappen won the race but could not erase the lead the McLaren driver held entering the last race.

"This is an aspect that I am most proud of," Norris said. "I believe I have just managed to win it the way I wanted to, which was without becoming someone I’m not."

He elaborated, "Choosing not to be as aggressive as Max or as assertive as other champions might have been historically, I’m content. I just did it my style – 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 three corners to go, then I began to tremble a bit," he said. "Then I got to see the team when I crossed the line is a moment that I’ll never forget."

A Remarkable Comeback

The driver's journey to the title involved a remarkable recovery from being 34 points behind of then-leader Oscar Piastri in the summer. A mechanical failure in the Dutch Grand Prix became a major catalyst.

"I was like: ‘Oh, shoot. I’m in a deep hole against a seriously quick driver, and I’ve got to raise my game,’" he revealed. "I had to become more myself due to external factors, bringing in more professionals in various fields to unlock more of my ability."

Competitors' Responses

Max Verstappen: No Regrets

The reigning champion took only positives from his and Red Bull’s season, having fought back from a massive points gap. He believed they had given their all against a papaya car 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 hated this car at times, but I’ve also excelled in it at times."

Yet, the driver reacted testily when asked about a controversial incident at the Barcelona race where a time punishment lost him valuable points.

"You forget all the other stuff that happened," he retorted. "The title is won over 24 rounds... I have also had a lot of lucky breaks come my way."

The Runner-Up's Reflection

The visibly dejected McLaren teammate, who had led for much of the season, admitted 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 an enormous amount about myself as a driver and off the track... Ultimately there’s a little bit of disappointment but I think I can be extremely pleased."