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Lando Norris has declared he is deeply satisfied of the manner in which he clinched his first-ever Formula One world championship, stressing after a heartfelt victory lap with his McLaren squad and family that he was pleased to have triumphed "in his own style".

Norris underscored that he believes he competed fairly and without excessive aggression, a strategy for which he has been scrutinized for lacking the much-discussed "killer instinct". He maintains that securing the title demonstrates such an approach is not essential.

The 26-year-old secured the championship with a P3 finish at the season finale, edging out Red Bull's Max Verstappen by a narrow margin. Verstappen took the checkered flag but could not overcome the 12-point advantage the McLaren driver held going into the final round.

"This is an aspect that makes me most proud," he commented. "I feel like I have just managed to win it the way I wanted to, which was not by being someone I’m not."

He elaborated, "Choosing not to be as combative as Max or as assertive as other champions might have been in the past, I’m happy. I just did it my style – by being a sportsmanlike driver, by trying to be an honest driver."

A Tense Conclusion

The champion admitted that, although he seemed calm, the closing moments were incredibly tense.

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

A Remarkable Comeback

Norris's path to the title involved a stunning comeback from being 34 points behind of his teammate in August. A DNF in the Dutch Grand Prix became a major catalyst.

"I was like: ‘Oh, shoot. I’m in a deep hole against a pretty freaking fast driver, and I’ve got to raise my game,’" he revealed. "I got to be more myself because of external factors, working with more professionals in different areas to fully realize my potential."

Rival Reactions

Max Verstappen: No Regrets

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

"Yes, absolutely, I have zero regrets about my season," he said. "Our pace has been impressive. I’ve hated this car at times, but I’ve also loved it at times."

Yet, the Dutchman reacted testily when asked about a contentious moment at the Barcelona race where a time punishment lost him critical points.

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

The Runner-Up's Reflection

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

"Naturally I would have wished for a slightly different ending," Piastri said. "But I think this year I’ve learned a hell of a lot about myself as a driver and as a person... Ultimately there’s a little bit of disappointment but I think I can be extremely pleased."