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Lando Norris has declared he is deeply satisfied of the approach in which he clinched his first-ever Formula One drivers' title, stressing after a heartfelt victory lap with his McLaren squad and family that he was pleased to have succeeded "his way".

The champion highlighted that he feels he raced cleanly and without excessive aggression, a strategy for which he has faced criticism for not displaying the much-discussed "ruthless edge". Norris argues that winning the championship demonstrates such an mentality is not essential.

The 26-year-old wrapped up the title with a third-place finish at the season finale, edging out Red Bull's Max Verstappen by a mere two points. The Dutch driver took the checkered flag but could not erase the 12-point advantage the McLaren driver held going into the final round.

"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, "Not trying to be as combative as Max or as forceful as other champions might have been historically, I’m happy. I just won it my way – by being a fair driver, by trying to be an honest driver."

A Tense Conclusion

Norris also conceded that, although he seemed calm, the closing moments were incredibly tense.

"I was composed until the very end, then I started to shake a little bit," he said. "Seeing the team after taking the flag is a memory that I’ll never forget."

A Remarkable Comeback

The driver's journey to the championship involved a remarkable recovery from being 34 points behind of then-leader Oscar Piastri in August. A mechanical failure in the Dutch Grand Prix became a key turning point.

"I was like: ‘Oh no. I’m quite a long way behind against a pretty freaking fast driver, and I’ve got to raise my game,’" he revealed. "I got to be more myself due to external factors, working with more professionals in various fields to fully realize my ability."

Competitors' Responses

Max Verstappen: No Regrets

Max Verstappen focused on the good from his and Red Bull’s performances, having mounted a comeback from a 104‑point deficit. 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," he said. "Our pace 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 asked about a controversial incident at the Barcelona race where a penalty lost him valuable points.

"You forget all the other events that happened," he retorted. "A championship 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 McLaren teammate, who had led for much of the season, reflected he would emerge stronger the experience.

"Obviously I would have wished for a slightly different ending," Piastri said. "However I think this year I’ve learned an enormous amount about myself as a driver and off the track... In the end there’s a touch of disappointment but I think I can be extremely pleased."