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The British racing driver stated he is deeply satisfied of the manner in which he clinched his inaugural Formula One world championship, stressing after emotional celebrations with his McLaren squad and family that he was pleased to have succeeded "in his own style".

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

Norris secured the championship with a P3 finish at the season finale, edging out his rival from Red Bull by a mere two points. The Dutch driver won the race but could not erase the lead the McLaren driver held entering the final round.

"This is an aspect that makes me most proud," Norris said. "I feel like I have just been able to secure it the way I aimed to, which was not by being someone I’m not."

He elaborated, "Choosing not to be as combative as Max or as forceful as other champions might have been in the past, 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 nerve-jangling.

"I was composed until the very end, then I began to tremble a little bit," he recalled. "Then I got to see the team when I crossed the line is a memory that I’ll always remember."

A Remarkable Comeback

The driver's journey to the title involved a remarkable recovery from being far adrift of then-leader Oscar Piastri in August. A mechanical failure in Zandvoort became a key turning point.

"I was like: ‘Oh, shoot. I’m quite a long way behind against a pretty freaking fast driver, and I’ve got to raise my game,’" Norris explained. "I had to become more myself due to external factors, bringing in more professionals in different areas to unlock more of my ability."

Competitors' Responses

The Red Bull Driver's View

Max Verstappen took only positives from his team's performances, having mounted a comeback from a massive points gap. Verstappen felt they had given their all against a papaya car that was often the faster package.

"Yes, absolutely, I have no regrets about my season," Verstappen stated. "The performance has been strong. I’ve hated this car at times, but I’ve also loved it at times."

However, the driver responded tersely when asked about a controversial incident at the Spanish GP where a penalty lost him valuable points.

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

Oscar Piastri: Lessons Learned

The visibly dejected Oscar Piastri, who had led for much of the season, admitted he would emerge stronger the experience.

"Naturally I would have wanted a 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... In the end there’s a little bit of disappointment but I think I can be very proud."