The British racing driver stated he is deeply satisfied of the manner in which he clinched his inaugural Formula One world championship, stressing after a heartfelt victory lap with his McLaren squad and family that he was happy to have succeeded "his way".
Norris underscored that he feels he raced fairly and without excessive aggression, a strategy for which he has faced criticism for not displaying the much-discussed "killer instinct". He maintains that securing the championship proves such an mentality is not essential.
Norris secured the championship with a P3 finish at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, edging out Red Bull's Max Verstappen by a narrow margin. Verstappen won the race but could not erase the 12-point advantage Norris held going into the last race.
"This is an aspect that I am most proud of," he commented. "I believe I have just been able to secure it the way I aimed to, which was not by being someone I’m not."
Norris added, "Not trying to be as aggressive as Max or as assertive as other champions might have been in the past, 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, despite appearances, the closing moments were incredibly tense.
"I felt calm until the very end, then I started to shake a little bit," he said. "Then I got to see the team when I crossed the line is a moment that I’ll never forget."
Norris's path to the championship involved a remarkable recovery from being far adrift of his teammate in August. A DNF in Zandvoort became a major catalyst.
"I was like: ‘Oh, shoot. 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 experts in different areas to unlock more of my ability."
The reigning champion focused on the good from his and Red Bull’s performances, having fought back from a massive points gap. He believed they had done everything possible against a papaya car that was the superior package.
"Yeah, I think so, I have no regrets about my season," he said. "The performance has been strong. I’ve struggled with this car at times, but I’ve also excelled in it at times."
Yet, the Dutchman reacted testily when asked about a contentious moment at the Barcelona race where a time punishment cost him valuable points.
"You forget all the other stuff that happened," he retorted. "The title is won over 24 rounds... I have also had a lot of lucky breaks given to me."
The visibly dejected Oscar Piastri, who had led for much of the campaign, admitted he would learn from the experience.
"Obviously I would have wanted a different ending," Piastri said. "However I think this year I’ve learned a hell of a lot about myself behind the wheel and off the track... Ultimately there’s a touch of disappointment but I think I can be extremely pleased."
Elena Hartwell is a multidisciplinary artist and educator passionate about fostering creative communities in London.