🔗 Share this article

The British racing driver stated 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 team and family that he was happy to have succeeded "his way".

The champion highlighted that he believes he competed cleanly and without excessive aggression, a philosophy for which he has faced criticism for not displaying the much-discussed "killer instinct". Norris argues that securing the championship proves such an mentality is not essential.

The 26-year-old secured the championship with a P3 finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, beating Red Bull's Max Verstappen by a narrow margin. Verstappen took the checkered flag but could not overcome the lead the McLaren driver held entering the final round.

"This is an aspect that makes me most proud," 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 forceful as other champions might have been historically, I’m happy. I just won it my way – by being a sportsmanlike driver, by trying to be an honest driver."

A Tense Conclusion

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

"I was composed until the very end, then I began to tremble a little bit," he recalled. "Then I got to see the team when I crossed the line is a moment that I’ll always remember."

A Remarkable Comeback

Norris's path to the championship involved a stunning comeback from being 34 points behind of his teammate in August. A mechanical failure in the Dutch Grand Prix became a key turning point.

"I thought: ‘Oh, shoot. I’m quite a long way behind against a seriously quick driver, and I’ve got to raise my game,’" Norris explained. "I had to become more myself due to external factors, bringing in more experts in various fields to unlock more of my ability."

Rival Reactions

The Red Bull Driver's View

Max Verstappen focused on the good from his and Red Bull’s performances, having mounted a comeback from a massive points gap. He believed they had done everything possible against a McLaren that was often the faster package.

"Yeah, I think so, I have zero regrets about my season," he said. "The performance has been strong. I’ve struggled with this car at times, but I’ve also excelled in it at times."

Yet, the Dutchman responded tersely when asked about a controversial incident at the Barcelona race where a penalty lost 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 come my way."

Oscar Piastri: Lessons Learned

A clearly disappointed Oscar Piastri, who was in front for much of the season, reflected he would learn from the experience.

"Obviously I would have wished for a slightly different ending," he stated. "But I think this year I’ve learned a hell of a lot 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."