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The British racing driver stated he is immensely proud of the approach in which he won his first-ever Formula One world championship, stressing after a heartfelt victory lap with his team and family that he was pleased to have succeeded "his way".

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". Norris argues that securing the title proves such an mentality is unnecessary.

Norris wrapped up the title with a third-place finish at the season finale, edging out his rival from Red Bull by a narrow margin. The Dutch driver took the checkered flag but could not erase the 12-point advantage the McLaren driver held entering the last race.

"This is an aspect that I am most proud of," he commented. "I believe I have just been able to secure it the way I wanted to, which was not by being someone I’m not."

Norris added, "Not trying to be as combative as Max or as assertive as other title-winners might have been historically, I’m content. I just won it my way – by being a sportsmanlike driver, by trying to be an respectful driver."

A Tense Conclusion

The champion admitted that, although he seemed calm, the closing moments were incredibly tense.

"I was composed until the very end, then I began to tremble a little bit," he said. "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 34 points behind of his teammate in August. A mechanical failure in Zandvoort served as 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 raise my game,’" he revealed. "I had to become more myself due to external factors, working with more experts in different areas to unlock more of my ability."

Rival Reactions

Max Verstappen: No Regrets

Max Verstappen took only positives from his team's performances, having fought back from a massive points gap. Verstappen felt they had given their all against a McLaren that was the superior package.

"Yes, absolutely, I have zero regrets about my season," he said. "The performance has been strong. I’ve hated this car at times, but I’ve also excelled in it at times."

Yet, the driver reacted testily when questioned about a contentious moment at the Spanish GP where a penalty lost him critical points.

"People overlook all the other events that happened," he retorted. "The title is won over a full season... I have also had a lot of lucky breaks given to me."

The Runner-Up's Reflection

A clearly disappointed McLaren teammate, who was in front for much of the season, reflected he would emerge stronger the defeat.

"Obviously 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 behind the wheel and off the track... In the end there’s a little bit of disappointment but I think I can be very proud."