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

The champion highlighted that he believes he competed fairly and without being overly forceful, a strategy for which he has been scrutinized for lacking the much-discussed "killer instinct". Norris argues that winning the title demonstrates such an mentality is not essential.

Norris secured the title with a P3 finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, beating Red Bull's Max Verstappen by a narrow margin. Verstappen won the race but could not overcome the lead the McLaren driver held entering the final round.

"That's one of the things that I am most proud of," Norris said. "I believe I have just been able to secure it the way I aimed to, which was without becoming someone I’m not."

Norris added, "Not trying to be as combative as Max or as forceful as other title-winners might have been historically, I’m happy. I just won it my way – by being a sportsmanlike driver, by trying to be an honest driver."

Nerve-Wracking Finale

The champion admitted that, despite appearances, the final laps were incredibly tense.

"I was composed until three corners to go, then I began to tremble a little bit," he recalled. "Seeing the team when I crossed the line is a memory that I’ll always remember."

A Remarkable Comeback

Norris's path to the title involved a remarkable recovery from being 34 points behind of his teammate in the summer. A mechanical failure in Zandvoort became a major catalyst.

"I thought: ‘Oh no. I’m in a deep hole against a pretty freaking fast driver, and I’ve got to step it up,’" Norris explained. "I had to become more myself because of external factors, bringing in more experts in different areas to fully realize my ability."

Competitors' Responses

Max Verstappen: No Regrets

The reigning champion took only positives from his team's performances, having mounted a comeback from a massive points gap. Verstappen felt they had done everything possible against a papaya car that was often the faster package.

"Yeah, I think so, I have no regrets about my season," he said. "The performance has been strong. I’ve hated this car at times, but I’ve also loved it at times."

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

"You forget all the other events that happened," Verstappen snapped. "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 McLaren teammate, who was in front for much of the season, reflected he would emerge stronger the experience.

"Naturally I would have wanted a different ending," Piastri said. "But I think this year I’ve learned an enormous amount about myself as a driver and as a person... Ultimately there’s a little bit of disappointment but I think I can be very proud."