The British racing driver stated he is deeply satisfied of the approach in which he won his first-ever Formula One world championship, emphasizing after emotional celebrations with his team and family that he was happy to have triumphed "his way".
Norris underscored that he feels he raced cleanly and without excessive aggression, a strategy for which he has faced criticism for not displaying the often-praised "ruthless edge". He maintains that securing the title proves such an mentality is not essential.
Norris secured the title with a P3 finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, 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 the McLaren driver held entering the final round.
"That's one of the things that makes me most proud," 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."
He elaborated, "Choosing not to be as aggressive as Max or as forceful as other title-winners 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."
Norris also conceded that, although he seemed calm, the closing moments were nerve-jangling.
"I felt calm until the very end, then I started to shake a little bit," he recalled. "Then I got to see the team after taking the flag is a moment that I’ll never forget."
Norris's path to the title involved a remarkable recovery from being 34 points behind of his teammate in the summer. A DNF in Zandvoort became a key turning point.
"I thought: ‘Oh, shoot. I’m in a deep hole 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, bringing in more experts in different areas to fully realize my ability."
The reigning champion focused on the good from his and Red Bull’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 impressive. I’ve hated this car at times, but I’ve also loved it at times."
Yet, the driver 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. "A championship is won over 24 rounds... I have also had a lot of lucky breaks given to me."
A clearly disappointed McLaren teammate, who had led for much of the season, admitted he would emerge stronger the defeat.
"Obviously I would have wished for a slightly different ending," he stated. "But I think this year I’ve learned an enormous amount about myself as a driver and as a person... Ultimately there’s a touch of disappointment but I think I can be very proud."
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