🔗 Share this article

Lando Norris has declared he is deeply satisfied of the manner in which he clinched his first-ever Formula One drivers' title, emphasizing after a heartfelt victory lap with his McLaren squad and family that he was happy to have succeeded "his way".

Norris underscored that he believes he competed cleanly and without excessive aggression, a strategy for which he has been scrutinized for lacking the often-praised "ruthless edge". He maintains that winning the title demonstrates such an mentality is unnecessary.

Norris wrapped up the championship with a third-place finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, beating Red Bull's Max Verstappen by a mere two points. The Dutch driver won the race but could not overcome the 12-point advantage Norris held entering the final round.

"This is an aspect that makes me most proud," Norris said. "I believe I have just been able to secure it the way I aimed to, which was without becoming someone I’m not."

Norris added, "Choosing not to be as aggressive as Max or as forceful 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 honest driver."

A Tense Conclusion

The champion admitted that, despite appearances, the final laps were incredibly tense.

"I felt calm until three corners to go, then I started to shake a bit," he said. "Seeing the team after taking the flag is a memory that I’ll never forget."

A Remarkable Comeback

Norris's path to the championship involved a stunning comeback from being 34 points behind of his teammate in August. A mechanical failure in Zandvoort served as a key turning point.

"I thought: ‘Oh, shoot. 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 due to external factors, working with more experts in different areas to fully realize my potential."

Competitors' Responses

Max Verstappen: No Regrets

Max Verstappen focused on the good from his and Red Bull’s season, having fought back from a 104‑point deficit. He believed they had done everything possible against a McLaren that was often the faster package.

"Yeah, I think so, 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 loved it at times."

However, the Dutchman responded tersely when asked about a contentious moment at the Spanish GP where a time punishment lost him valuable points.

"People overlook all the other events 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."

The Runner-Up's Reflection

A clearly disappointed McLaren teammate, who had led for much of the season, admitted he would learn from the experience.

"Obviously I would have wished for a slightly different ending," Piastri said. "However I think this year I’ve learned a hell of a lot about myself as a driver and as a person... Ultimately there’s a little bit of disappointment but I think I can be very proud."