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The British racing driver stated he is deeply satisfied of the manner in which he clinched his first-ever Formula One drivers' title, stressing after a heartfelt victory lap with his McLaren squad and family that he was happy to have triumphed "in his own style".

Norris underscored that he believes he competed cleanly and without excessive aggression, a strategy for which he has been scrutinized for lacking the much-discussed "killer instinct". He maintains that winning the championship proves such an approach is unnecessary.

Norris secured the title with a third-place finish at the season finale, beating Red Bull's Max Verstappen by a mere two points. The Dutch driver won the race but could not overcome the lead Norris held going into the final round.

"That's one of the things that I am most proud of," Norris said. "I feel like I have just managed to win it the way I aimed to, which was without becoming someone I’m not."

He elaborated, "Not trying to be as combative as Max or as forceful as other champions might have been historically, I’m happy. I just did it my style – by being a fair driver, by trying to be an respectful driver."

Nerve-Wracking Finale

Norris also conceded that, although he seemed calm, the closing moments were nerve-jangling.

"I was composed until the very end, then I began to tremble a bit," he said. "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 championship involved a stunning comeback from being far adrift of then-leader Oscar Piastri in August. A mechanical failure in Zandvoort served as a major catalyst.

"I was like: ‘Oh no. I’m in a deep hole against a seriously quick driver, and I’ve got to raise my game,’" he revealed. "I got to be more myself because of external factors, working with more professionals in various fields to fully realize my potential."

Rival Reactions

Max Verstappen: No Regrets

Max Verstappen focused on the good from his and Red Bull’s performances, having mounted a comeback from a massive points gap. Verstappen felt they had done everything possible against a McLaren that was the superior package.

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

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

"You forget all the other stuff that happened," he retorted. "The title is won over a full season... I have also had a lot of early Christmas presents given to me."

Oscar Piastri: Lessons Learned

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

"Naturally I would have wanted a different ending," he stated. "However I think this year I’ve learned an enormous amount about myself behind the wheel and off the track... Ultimately there’s a touch of disappointment but I think I can be extremely pleased."