The McLaren driver Reveals Satisfaction in Securing First F1 Title On His Own Terms.
The British racing driver stated he is deeply satisfied of the approach in which he won 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 "his way".
Norris underscored that he believes he competed fairly and without excessive aggression, a strategy for which he has been scrutinized for lacking the much-discussed "killer instinct". He maintains that securing the championship demonstrates such an approach is unnecessary.
Norris 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 took the checkered flag but could not erase the 12-point advantage Norris held going into the last race.
"This is an aspect that makes me most proud," Norris said. "I feel like I have just managed to win it the way I wanted to, which was without becoming someone I’m not."
He elaborated, "Not trying to be as aggressive 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 fair driver, by trying to be an honest driver."
A Tense Conclusion
The champion admitted that, despite appearances, the closing moments were nerve-jangling.
"I felt calm until the very end, then I started to shake a bit," he recalled. "Seeing the team after taking the flag is a moment that I’ll never forget."
An Incredible Turnaround
The driver's journey to the championship involved a remarkable recovery from being far adrift of his teammate in the summer. A DNF in Zandvoort became a major catalyst.
"I thought: ‘Oh, shoot. I’m quite a long way behind against a seriously quick driver, and I’ve got to step it up,’" he revealed. "I had to become more myself because of external factors, bringing in more professionals in different areas to fully realize my ability."
Competitors' Responses
The Red Bull Driver's View
The reigning champion focused on the good from his and Red Bull’s performances, having fought back from a massive points gap. He believed they had done everything possible against a papaya car that was often the faster package.
"Yeah, I think so, I have no regrets about my season," he said. "Our pace has been impressive. I’ve struggled with this car at times, but I’ve also loved it at times."
Yet, the driver responded tersely when asked about a controversial incident at the Barcelona race where a time punishment 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 early Christmas presents given to me."
The Runner-Up's Reflection
The visibly dejected Oscar Piastri, who had led for much of the campaign, reflected he would learn from the defeat.
"Naturally 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 off the track... Ultimately there’s a touch of disappointment but I think I can be very proud."
