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Lando Norris has declared he is immensely proud of the manner in which he clinched his first-ever Formula One drivers' title, stressing after a heartfelt victory lap with his McLaren squad and family that he was happy to have triumphed "in his own style".

The champion highlighted that he feels he raced cleanly and without excessive aggression, a philosophy for which he has been scrutinized for not displaying the often-praised "ruthless edge". He maintains that securing the championship proves such an approach is unnecessary.

Norris wrapped up the championship with a P3 finish at the season finale, edging out Red Bull's Max Verstappen by a mere two points. The Dutch driver took the checkered flag but could not overcome the lead 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."

Norris added, "Choosing not to be as combative as Max or as forceful as other champions might have been historically, I’m happy. 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 closing moments were incredibly tense.

"I felt calm until three corners to go, then I began to tremble a little bit," he said. "Then I got to see the team after taking the flag is a moment that I’ll never forget."

A Remarkable Comeback

The driver's journey to the championship involved a remarkable recovery from being far adrift of his teammate in August. A DNF in Zandvoort served as a key turning point.

"I thought: ‘Oh no. I’m quite a long way behind against a seriously quick driver, and I’ve got to step it up,’" Norris explained. "I got to be more myself because of external factors, working with more professionals in various fields to unlock more of my ability."

Competitors' Responses

Max Verstappen: No Regrets

Max Verstappen focused on the good from his team's performances, having fought back from a 104‑point deficit. He believed they had done everything possible against a McLaren that was often the faster package.

"Yeah, I think so, I have zero regrets about my season," he said. "Our pace has been strong. I’ve hated this car at times, but I’ve also excelled in it at times."

However, the Dutchman responded tersely when asked about a contentious moment at the Spanish GP where a time punishment lost him critical points.

"People overlook all the other events that happened," he retorted. "A championship is won over a full season... I have also had a lot of early Christmas presents given to me."

The Runner-Up's Reflection

The visibly dejected Oscar Piastri, who was in front for much of the season, admitted he would learn from the defeat.

"Obviously I would have wished for a different ending," Piastri said. "But I think this year I’ve learned an enormous amount about myself behind the wheel and off the track... In the end there’s a little bit of disappointment but I think I can be very proud."