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The British racing driver stated he is immensely proud of the approach in which he won his inaugural Formula One world championship, stressing after emotional celebrations with his McLaren squad and family that he was pleased to have triumphed "in his own style".

Norris underscored that he feels he raced cleanly and without being overly forceful, a philosophy for which he has faced criticism for lacking the much-discussed "ruthless edge". He maintains that winning the title proves such an mentality is unnecessary.

The 26-year-old wrapped up the championship 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 overcome the 12-point advantage Norris 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 without becoming someone I’m not."

Norris added, "Not trying to be as combative as Max or as assertive as other champions might have been historically, I’m content. I just did it my style – by being a sportsmanlike driver, by trying to be an honest driver."

Nerve-Wracking Finale

The champion admitted that, although he seemed calm, the final laps were incredibly tense.

"I felt calm until the very end, then I started to shake a little bit," he recalled. "Then I got to see the team when I crossed the line is a memory that I’ll never forget."

A Remarkable Comeback

Norris's path to the championship involved a remarkable recovery from being far adrift of his teammate in August. A mechanical failure in Zandvoort became a key turning point.

"I was like: ‘Oh no. I’m quite a long way behind against a seriously quick driver, and I’ve got to raise my game,’" he revealed. "I had to become more myself because of external factors, bringing in more experts in different areas to fully realize my ability."

Rival Reactions

Max Verstappen: No Regrets

The reigning champion took only positives from his team's performances, having mounted a comeback from a 104‑point deficit. 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," Verstappen stated. "Our pace has been strong. I’ve struggled with this car at times, but I’ve also excelled in it at times."

Yet, the Dutchman responded tersely when asked about a contentious moment at the Barcelona race where a penalty lost him valuable points.

"You forget all the other events that happened," Verstappen snapped. "A championship is won over 24 rounds... I have also had a lot of lucky breaks come my way."

The Runner-Up's Reflection

A clearly disappointed Oscar Piastri, who had led for much of the campaign, reflected he would learn from the experience.

"Obviously I would have wanted a slightly different ending," he stated. "But 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 touch of disappointment but I think I can be extremely pleased."