Lando Norris Reveals Satisfaction in Securing Maiden F1 Title On His Own Terms.

Lando Norris has declared he is immensely proud of the approach in which he clinched his first-ever Formula One world championship, emphasizing after emotional celebrations with his team and family that he was pleased to have succeeded "his way".

The champion highlighted that he believes he competed cleanly and without excessive aggression, a strategy for which he has been scrutinized for not displaying the often-praised "killer instinct". He maintains that securing the championship demonstrates such an mentality is not essential.

Norris wrapped up the title with a third-place finish at the season finale, beating his rival from Red Bull by a narrow margin. Verstappen won the race but could not erase the lead Norris held entering the final round.

"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 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 won it my way – by being a fair driver, by trying to be an respectful driver."

Nerve-Wracking Finale

Norris also conceded that, despite appearances, the final laps were nerve-jangling.

"I felt calm until the very end, then I started to shake a little bit," he recalled. "Then I got to see the team after taking the flag is a memory that I’ll always remember."

An Incredible Turnaround

The driver's journey to the championship involved a remarkable recovery from being 34 points behind of his teammate in the summer. A mechanical failure in the Dutch Grand Prix became a major catalyst.

"I was like: ‘Oh no. I’m quite a long way behind against a pretty freaking fast driver, and I’ve got to step it up,’" he revealed. "I had to become more myself because of external factors, bringing in more professionals in various fields to unlock more of my ability."

Competitors' Responses

Max Verstappen: No Regrets

The reigning champion focused on the good from his team's season, having fought back from a massive points gap. He believed they had given their all against a papaya car that was the superior package.

"Yes, absolutely, I have no regrets about my season," he said. "The performance has been impressive. I’ve struggled with this car at times, but I’ve also excelled in it at times."

However, the Dutchman responded tersely when questioned about a controversial incident at the Spanish GP where a penalty cost him critical points.

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

Oscar Piastri: Lessons Learned

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

"Obviously I would have wished for a different ending," he stated. "But I think this year I’ve learned an enormous amount about myself as a driver and off the track... In the end there’s a little bit of disappointment but I think I can be extremely pleased."