Lando Norris has declared he is deeply satisfied of the approach 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 triumphed "his way".
The champion highlighted that he feels he raced cleanly and without being overly forceful, a strategy for which he has faced criticism for lacking the much-discussed "killer instinct". He maintains that securing the title demonstrates such an approach is unnecessary.
The 26-year-old secured the title with a third-place finish at the season finale, beating Red Bull's Max Verstappen by a narrow margin. The Dutch driver took the checkered flag but could not overcome the 12-point advantage Norris held going into the last race.
"That's one of the things that makes me most proud," he commented. "I believe I have just been able to secure it the way I aimed to, which was without becoming someone I’m not."
Norris added, "Choosing not to be as aggressive as Max or as forceful 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 honest driver."
A Tense Conclusion
The champion admitted that, despite appearances, the closing moments were incredibly tense.
"I felt calm until the very end, then I started to shake a bit," he recalled. "Seeing the team when I crossed the line 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 his teammate in the summer. A mechanical failure in Zandvoort served as a major catalyst.
"I thought: ‘Oh no. I’m in a deep hole against a seriously quick 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 various fields to unlock more of my ability."
Competitors' Responses
The Red Bull Driver's View
The reigning champion took only positives from his and Red Bull’s performances, having mounted a comeback from a massive points gap. Verstappen felt they had given their all against a McLaren that was the superior package.
"Yes, absolutely, I have no regrets about my season," Verstappen stated. "Our pace has been impressive. I’ve hated this car at times, but I’ve also loved it at times."
However, the Dutchman responded tersely when asked about a controversial incident at the Barcelona race where a penalty lost him critical points.
"You forget all the other stuff that happened," he retorted. "The title is won over a full season... I have also had a lot of lucky breaks given to me."
Oscar Piastri: Lessons Learned
The visibly dejected Oscar Piastri, who had led for much of the campaign, admitted he would emerge stronger the defeat.
"Obviously I would have wanted a different ending," Piastri said. "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."
