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The British racing driver stated he is deeply satisfied of the manner in which he won his first-ever Formula One world championship, stressing after emotional celebrations with his team and family that he was happy to have triumphed "his way".

Norris underscored that he feels he raced fairly and without being overly forceful, a strategy for which he has been scrutinized for not displaying the often-praised "ruthless edge". Norris argues that securing the championship proves such an mentality is unnecessary.

The 26-year-old wrapped up the championship with a third-place finish at the season finale, edging out Red Bull's Max Verstappen by a narrow margin. The Dutch driver took the checkered flag but could not erase the 12-point advantage Norris held entering the final round.

"This is an aspect that I am most proud of," Norris said. "I believe I have just been able to secure it the way I wanted to, which was not by being someone I’m not."

Norris added, "Choosing not to be as combative as Max or as forceful 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, although he seemed calm, the closing moments were nerve-jangling.

"I felt calm until three corners to go, then I began to tremble a little bit," he said. "Seeing the team after taking the flag is a moment that I’ll always remember."

An Incredible Turnaround

The driver's journey to the title involved a stunning comeback from being far adrift of then-leader Oscar Piastri in the summer. A DNF in Zandvoort became a key turning point.

"I thought: ‘Oh, shoot. I’m in a deep hole 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 unlock more of my ability."

Competitors' Responses

The Red Bull Driver's View

Max Verstappen took only positives from his team's season, having fought back from a massive points gap. 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. "The performance has been strong. I’ve hated this car at times, but I’ve also loved it at times."

However, the driver reacted testily when questioned about a contentious moment at the Spanish GP where a time punishment lost him valuable points.

"People overlook all the other events that happened," Verstappen snapped. "A championship is won over 24 rounds... I have also had a lot of early Christmas presents come my way."

Oscar Piastri: Lessons Learned

The visibly dejected McLaren teammate, who had led for much of the season, admitted he would emerge stronger the defeat.

"Obviously I would have wished for a different ending," Piastri said. "However I think this year I’ve learned an enormous amount about myself behind the wheel and as a person... Ultimately there’s a touch of disappointment but I think I can be very proud."