Lando Norris Expresses Pride in Claiming Maiden F1 Title On His Own Terms.

Lando Norris has declared he is immensely proud of the approach in which he won his first-ever Formula One drivers' title, stressing after a heartfelt victory lap with his team and family that he was happy to have succeeded "his way".

Norris underscored that he believes he competed fairly and without excessive aggression, a philosophy for which he has faced criticism for not displaying the often-praised "killer instinct". Norris argues that winning the title demonstrates such an mentality is not essential.

The 26-year-old secured the championship with a third-place finish at the season finale, beating his rival from Red Bull by a narrow margin. Verstappen won the race but could not erase the 12-point advantage Norris held going into the last race.

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

He elaborated, "Choosing not to be as combative as Max or as forceful as other title-winners might have been historically, I’m happy. I just won it my way – by being a sportsmanlike driver, by trying to be an respectful driver."

A Tense Conclusion

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

"I felt calm until the very end, then I began to tremble a bit," he said. "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 title involved a stunning comeback from being 34 points behind of his teammate in August. A mechanical failure in the Dutch Grand Prix became a key turning point.

"I thought: ‘Oh no. I’m in a deep hole against a pretty freaking fast driver, and I’ve got to step it up,’" Norris explained. "I had to become more myself due to external factors, working with more professionals in different areas to unlock more of my ability."

Rival Reactions

Max Verstappen: No Regrets

The reigning champion focused on the good from his and Red Bull’s season, having mounted a comeback from a 104‑point deficit. He believed 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 impressive. I’ve struggled with this car at times, but I’ve also excelled in it at times."

However, the driver reacted testily when questioned about a contentious moment at the Spanish GP where a time punishment cost him critical points.

"You forget 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 given to me."

The Runner-Up's Reflection

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

"Naturally I would have wanted a different ending," Piastri said. "However I think this year I’ve learned an enormous amount 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."