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Lando Norris has declared he is deeply satisfied of the approach in which he won his inaugural Formula One world championship, emphasizing after a heartfelt victory lap with his McLaren squad and family that he was happy to have succeeded "in his own style".

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 much-discussed "ruthless edge". He maintains that securing the title demonstrates such an mentality is not essential.

The 26-year-old secured the title with a P3 finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, beating Red Bull's Max Verstappen by a mere two points. Verstappen won the race but could not erase the lead the McLaren driver held entering the last race.

"That's one of the things that makes me most proud," Norris said. "I believe I have just managed to win 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 in the past, I’m happy. I just did it my style – by being a fair driver, by trying to be an respectful driver."

A Tense Conclusion

Norris also conceded that, although he seemed calm, the final laps were incredibly tense.

"I was composed until three corners to go, then I began to tremble a bit," he said. "Seeing the team when I crossed the line is a moment that I’ll never forget."

A Remarkable Comeback

The driver's journey to the championship involved a stunning comeback from being far adrift of his teammate in the summer. A DNF in Zandvoort became a major catalyst.

"I was like: ‘Oh, shoot. I’m in a deep hole against a seriously quick driver, and I’ve got to raise my game,’" Norris explained. "I had to become more myself due to external factors, working with more professionals in different areas to unlock more of my potential."

Rival Reactions

Max Verstappen: No Regrets

The reigning champion took only positives from his team's performances, having fought back from a massive points gap. Verstappen felt they had done everything possible against a papaya car that was the superior package.

"Yeah, I think so, I have no regrets about my season," Verstappen stated. "The performance has been strong. I’ve hated this car at times, but I’ve also excelled in it at times."

However, the Dutchman reacted testily when questioned about a contentious moment at the Barcelona race where a penalty cost him valuable points.

"You forget all the other stuff that happened," he retorted. "A championship 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 season, admitted he would learn from the experience.

"Naturally I would have wanted a slightly different ending," Piastri said. "But I think this year I’ve learned a hell of a lot about myself behind the wheel and off the track... Ultimately there’s a little bit of disappointment but I think I can be extremely pleased."