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Lando Norris has declared he is immensely proud of the manner in which he clinched his inaugural Formula One world championship, emphasizing after a heartfelt victory lap with his team 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 faced criticism for lacking the much-discussed "ruthless edge". He maintains that winning the championship proves such an approach is not essential.

The 26-year-old secured the championship with a P3 finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, beating his rival from Red Bull by a narrow margin. Verstappen won the race but could not overcome the 12-point advantage Norris held going into the last race.

"That's one of the things that I am most proud of," he commented. "I feel like I have just been able to secure it the way I wanted to, which was without becoming someone I’m not."

Norris added, "Choosing not to be as aggressive as Max or as forceful as other title-winners 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."

Nerve-Wracking Finale

Norris also conceded that, despite appearances, the final laps were incredibly tense.

"I was composed 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 memory that I’ll never forget."

A Remarkable Comeback

The driver's journey to the title involved a stunning comeback from being far adrift of his teammate in August. A DNF in the Dutch Grand Prix became a major catalyst.

"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 got to be more myself because of external factors, working with more professionals in various fields to unlock more of my potential."

Rival Reactions

Max Verstappen: No Regrets

The reigning champion focused on the good from his and Red Bull’s performances, having mounted a comeback from a 104‑point deficit. Verstappen felt they had done everything possible against a papaya car that was often the faster package.

"Yeah, I think so, I have zero regrets about my season," he said. "The performance has been impressive. I’ve struggled with this car at times, but I’ve also loved it at times."

However, the Dutchman responded tersely when asked about a contentious moment at the Barcelona race where a time punishment cost him critical points.

"People overlook all the other stuff that happened," he retorted. "A championship is won over 24 rounds... 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 defeat.

"Obviously I would have wanted a slightly different ending," he stated. "However I think this year I’ve learned a hell of a lot about myself behind the wheel and as a person... In the end there’s a little bit of disappointment but I think I can be extremely pleased."