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The British racing driver stated he is immensely proud of the manner in which he won his inaugural Formula One world championship, emphasizing after emotional celebrations with his McLaren squad and family that he was pleased to have succeeded "in his own style".

The champion highlighted that he feels he raced fairly and without excessive aggression, a philosophy for which he has been scrutinized for lacking the much-discussed "killer instinct". He maintains that securing the championship proves such an approach is not essential.

The 26-year-old secured the title with a third-place finish at the season finale, beating his rival from Red Bull by a mere two points. Verstappen took the checkered flag but could not overcome the lead Norris held going into the final round.

"That's one of the things that I am most proud of," Norris said. "I believe I have just managed to win it the way I wanted to, which was not by being someone I’m not."

Norris added, "Choosing not to be as aggressive 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 fair driver, by trying to be an respectful driver."

A Tense Conclusion

The champion admitted that, although he seemed calm, the final laps were incredibly tense.

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

A Remarkable Comeback

Norris's path to the title involved a remarkable recovery from being far adrift of his teammate in August. A DNF in the Dutch Grand Prix became a key turning point.

"I was like: ‘Oh, shoot. I’m quite a long way behind against a pretty freaking fast driver, and I’ve got to raise my game,’" Norris explained. "I had to become more myself due to external factors, working with more experts in various fields to unlock more of my ability."

Competitors' Responses

Max Verstappen: No Regrets

The reigning champion took only positives from his team's season, having mounted a comeback from a 104‑point deficit. Verstappen felt they had done everything possible against a papaya car that was the superior package.

"Yes, absolutely, I have zero regrets about my season," Verstappen stated. "Our pace has been impressive. I’ve struggled with this car at times, but I’ve also loved it at times."

However, the driver responded tersely when asked about a contentious moment at the Spanish GP where a penalty lost him valuable points.

"You forget all the other stuff that happened," he retorted. "The title is won over 24 rounds... I have also had a lot of lucky breaks given to me."

Oscar Piastri: Lessons Learned

The visibly dejected McLaren teammate, who had led for much of the campaign, reflected he would learn from the defeat.

"Naturally I would have wished for a different ending," he stated. "However I think this year I’ve learned a hell of a lot about myself as a driver and off the track... Ultimately there’s a touch of disappointment but I think I can be very proud."