The British racing driver stated he is immensely proud of the approach in which he won his inaugural Formula One world championship, stressing after emotional celebrations with his team and family that he was happy to have succeeded "in his own style".
Norris underscored that he feels he raced fairly and without excessive aggression, a philosophy for which he has faced criticism for not displaying the often-praised "ruthless edge". Norris argues that securing the championship proves such an mentality is unnecessary.
Norris secured the title with a third-place finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, edging out his rival from Red Bull by a narrow margin. Verstappen won the race but could not erase the lead the McLaren driver held entering the final round.
"That's one of the things that makes me most proud," he commented. "I feel like I have just managed to win it the way I aimed to, which was not by being someone I’m not."
He elaborated, "Choosing not to be as aggressive as Max or as assertive as other champions might have been historically, I’m happy. I just did it my style – by being a sportsmanlike driver, by trying to be an honest driver."
Nerve-Wracking Finale
Norris also conceded that, despite appearances, the final laps were nerve-jangling.
"I felt calm until three corners to go, then I began to tremble a bit," he recalled. "Seeing the team after taking the flag is a memory that I’ll never forget."
An Incredible Turnaround
The driver's journey to the title involved a remarkable recovery from being 34 points behind of then-leader Oscar Piastri in the summer. A DNF in the Dutch Grand Prix became a key turning point.
"I thought: ‘Oh, shoot. I’m in a deep hole against a pretty freaking fast driver, and I’ve got to raise my game,’" Norris explained. "I got to be more myself due to external factors, working with more professionals in different areas to fully realize my potential."
Rival Reactions
Max Verstappen: No Regrets
The reigning champion took only positives from his and Red Bull’s season, having fought back from a 104‑point deficit. Verstappen felt they had given their all against a papaya car that was the superior package.
"Yeah, I think so, I have no regrets about my season," Verstappen stated. "Our pace has been strong. I’ve struggled with this car at times, but I’ve also loved it at times."
Yet, the driver 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. "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 was in front for much of the season, admitted he would learn from the defeat.
"Naturally I would have wanted a slightly 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 little bit of disappointment but I think I can be extremely pleased."
