The McLaren driver Expresses Pride in Claiming Maiden F1 Title His Way.

The British racing driver stated he is deeply satisfied of the manner in which he won his inaugural Formula One world championship, emphasizing after a heartfelt victory lap with his McLaren squad and family that he was pleased to have triumphed "his way".

The champion highlighted that he believes he competed cleanly and without excessive aggression, a strategy for which he has faced criticism for not displaying the much-discussed "ruthless edge". He maintains that winning the title demonstrates such an approach is not essential.

Norris secured the title with a third-place finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, edging out Red Bull's Max Verstappen by a narrow margin. Verstappen took the checkered flag but could not erase the lead the McLaren driver held going into the final round.

"This is an aspect 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 without becoming someone I’m not."

He elaborated, "Choosing not to be as combative as Max or as forceful as other title-winners might have been in the past, 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, although he seemed calm, the final laps were nerve-jangling.

"I was composed until the very end, then I started to shake a little bit," he said. "Seeing the team when I crossed the line is a memory that I’ll always remember."

A Remarkable Comeback

The driver's journey to the title involved a stunning comeback from being far adrift of then-leader Oscar Piastri in the summer. A mechanical failure in the Dutch Grand Prix became a major catalyst.

"I thought: ‘Oh no. I’m quite a long way behind against a seriously quick driver, and I’ve got to step it up,’" he revealed. "I got to be more myself due to external factors, bringing in more professionals in different areas to fully realize my ability."

Rival Reactions

The Red Bull Driver's View

The reigning champion took only positives from his team's performances, having fought back from a 104‑point deficit. He believed they had given their all against a McLaren that was the superior package.

"Yeah, I think so, I have no regrets about my season," he said. "The performance has been strong. 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 Spanish GP where a penalty lost him valuable points.

"People overlook all the other stuff that happened," he retorted. "The title is won over 24 rounds... I have also had a lot of early Christmas presents come my way."

The Runner-Up's Reflection

A clearly disappointed McLaren teammate, who had led for much of the season, reflected he would emerge stronger the experience.

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