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Lando Norris has declared he is immensely proud of the approach in which he clinched his first-ever Formula One world championship, stressing after emotional celebrations with his team and family that he was pleased to have succeeded "in his own style".

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

Norris wrapped up the championship with a third-place finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, edging out Red Bull's Max Verstappen by a narrow margin. Verstappen took the checkered flag but could not overcome the 12-point advantage Norris held entering the last race.

"That's one of the things that makes me most proud," he commented. "I believe I have just managed to win it the way I aimed to, which was without becoming someone I’m not."

Norris added, "Choosing not to be as aggressive as Max or as forceful as other champions might have been historically, I’m content. I just did it my style – by being a fair driver, by trying to be an honest driver."

A Tense Conclusion

Norris also conceded that, although he seemed calm, the final laps were nerve-jangling.

"I was composed until three corners to go, then I started to shake a bit," he said. "Seeing the team when I crossed the line is a moment that I’ll always remember."

An Incredible Turnaround

The driver's journey to the championship involved a remarkable recovery from being 34 points behind of his teammate in August. A mechanical failure in the Dutch Grand Prix became 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 step it up,’" Norris explained. "I had to become more myself due to external factors, bringing in more experts in various fields to unlock more of my potential."

Competitors' Responses

The Red Bull Driver's View

Max Verstappen took only positives from his team's season, having fought back from a 104‑point deficit. Verstappen felt they had given their all against a McLaren that was the superior package.

"Yes, absolutely, I have zero regrets about my season," Verstappen stated. "Our pace has been strong. I’ve hated this car at times, but I’ve also excelled in it at times."

However, the Dutchman reacted testily when asked about a controversial incident at the Barcelona race where a penalty cost him critical points.

"People overlook all the other stuff that happened," Verstappen snapped. "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 Oscar Piastri, who was in front for much of the season, admitted he would emerge stronger the experience.

"Naturally I would have wanted a slightly different ending," he stated. "But 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 touch of disappointment but I think I can be extremely pleased."