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Lando Norris has declared he is deeply satisfied of the approach in which he clinched his first-ever Formula One drivers' title, stressing after emotional celebrations with his team and family that he was pleased to have triumphed "his way".

Norris underscored that he feels he raced cleanly and without excessive aggression, a strategy for which he has been scrutinized for not displaying the often-praised "killer instinct". He maintains that winning the title demonstrates such an mentality is unnecessary.

The 26-year-old secured the championship with a third-place finish at the season finale, edging out Red Bull's Max Verstappen by a mere two points. Verstappen took the checkered flag but could not overcome the 12-point advantage Norris held going into the last race.

"That's one of the things that makes me most proud," Norris said. "I believe I have just managed to win it the way I wanted to, which was not by being someone I’m not."

Norris added, "Not trying to be as aggressive as Max or as forceful as other title-winners might have been in the past, I’m content. I just did it my style – 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 nerve-jangling.

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

An Incredible Turnaround

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

"I thought: ‘Oh no. 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 because of external factors, working with more professionals in various fields to unlock more of my potential."

Competitors' Responses

Max Verstappen: No Regrets

The reigning champion focused on the good 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 no regrets about my season," Verstappen stated. "The performance has been impressive. 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 time punishment cost him valuable 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 lucky breaks come my way."

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 wished for a different ending," he stated. "But I think this year I’ve learned an enormous amount about myself behind the wheel and as a person... In the end there’s a little bit of disappointment but I think I can be extremely pleased."