The adrenaline was fading but the joy of a first world championship remained vivid as Lando Norris looked back on what reaching his lifelong goal meant to him.
"I just won it my way," the McLaren driver said, adding that he was glad he could be himself. He explained that victory felt right because he did not try to imitate others: "Not trying to be as aggressive as Max or as forceful as other champions might have been… My style of just trying to be a good person and a good team member."
The 26-year-old spoke at length after climbing from his car in Abu Dhabi, where his third-place finish in the 2025 season finale secured the title by two points over Max Verstappen. As protocol demanded, he completed media duties before celebrating, and much of what he said captured the tone of a season that reflected his journey to the top.
It was not straightforward. Verstappen produced a remarkable late-season revival and some questioned whether he might have been the more deserving champion after his comeback. Norris, meanwhile, survived a difficult early run and built momentum when it mattered, ultimately managing a tense race in Abu Dhabi with controlled composure.
After the podium celebra
