🔗 Share this article The McLaren driver Reveals Satisfaction in Securing Maiden F1 Title On His Own Terms. Lando Norris has declared he is deeply satisfied of the manner in which he won his first-ever Formula One world championship, stressing after emotional celebrations with his team and family that he was pleased to have succeeded "his way". The champion highlighted that he feels he raced cleanly and without excessive aggression, a philosophy for which he has faced criticism for not displaying the much-discussed "killer instinct". He maintains that securing the championship demonstrates such an approach is unnecessary. The 26-year-old secured the championship with a P3 finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, beating his rival from Red Bull by a narrow margin. Verstappen won the race but could not overcome the 12-point advantage 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 wanted to, which was not by being someone I’m not." He elaborated, "Choosing not to be as combative as Max or as assertive 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 respectful driver." A Tense Conclusion The champion admitted that, despite appearances, the closing moments were nerve-jangling. "I felt calm until three corners to go, then I began to tremble a little bit," he recalled. "Seeing the team after taking the flag is a moment that I’ll always remember." A Remarkable Comeback The driver's journey to the title involved a remarkable recovery from being 34 points behind of then-leader Oscar Piastri in August. A mechanical failure in Zandvoort served as a major catalyst. "I thought: ‘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, working with more professionals in different areas to fully realize my ability." Competitors' Responses The Red Bull Driver's View Max Verstappen focused on the good from his team's performances, having mounted a comeback from a massive points gap. Verstappen felt they had given their all against a McLaren that was the superior package. "Yes, absolutely, I have no regrets about my season," Verstappen stated. "Our pace has been strong. I’ve struggled with this car at times, but I’ve also excelled in it at times." However, the Dutchman responded tersely when asked about a controversial incident at the Spanish GP where a penalty lost him valuable points. "People overlook all the other events that happened," he retorted. "The title is won over 24 rounds... I have also had a lot of early Christmas presents given to me." The Runner-Up's Reflection A clearly disappointed McLaren teammate, who had led for much of the season, reflected he would emerge stronger the defeat. "Naturally I would have wanted a slightly different ending," Piastri said. "But 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 extremely pleased."