đ Share this article Lando Norris Expresses Pride in Securing Maiden F1 Title His Way. Lando Norris has declared he is immensely proud of the approach in which he won his inaugural Formula One world championship, stressing after emotional celebrations with his team and family that he was happy to have triumphed "his way". The champion highlighted that he feels he raced fairly and without being overly forceful, a strategy for which he has been scrutinized for lacking the often-praised "killer instinct". He maintains that winning the title proves such an approach is unnecessary. Norris secured the championship with a P3 finish at the season finale, beating his rival from Red Bull by a narrow margin. Verstappen took the checkered flag but could not erase the lead Norris held going into the final round. "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 Iâm not." He elaborated, "Choosing not to be as aggressive as Max or as assertive as other title-winners might have been in the past, Iâm happy. I just did it my style â by being a sportsmanlike driver, by trying to be an respectful driver." Nerve-Wracking Finale 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 memory that Iâll never forget." A Remarkable Comeback The driver's journey to the championship involved a stunning comeback from being 34 points behind of then-leader Oscar Piastri in August. A DNF in Zandvoort served as a major catalyst. "I thought: âOh, shoot. Iâm in a deep hole against a seriously quick driver, and Iâve got to step it up,â" Norris explained. "I had to become more myself because of external factors, bringing in more experts in different areas to fully realize my ability." Rival Reactions The Red Bull Driver's View Max Verstappen focused on the good from his and Red Bullâs season, having fought back from a 104âpoint deficit. He believed they had given their all against a McLaren that was the superior package. "Yeah, I think so, I have no regrets about my season," Verstappen stated. "The performance has been impressive. Iâve hated this car at times, but Iâve also excelled in 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 come my way." The Runner-Up's Reflection A clearly disappointed McLaren teammate, who had led for much of the campaign, reflected he would learn from the defeat. "Naturally I would have wanted a slightly different ending," he stated. "However I think this year Iâve learned a hell of a lot about myself as a driver and as a person... In the end thereâs a touch of disappointment but I think I can be very proud."