Autobayng News Team
Lando Norris says his world championship triumph vindicated his approach to racing in Formula 1 and showed he did not need to be more like his rivals.
The McLaren driver clinched the world championship by two points in the final race of the season.
He has faced criticism in the past, notably in his defeat last year, for not being as ruthless as some of his rivals. But Norris says his victory “makes me most proud” he stayed true to himself.
“I feel like I have just managed to win it the way I wanted to win it, which was not by being someone I’m not,” he explained. “Not trying to be as aggressive as Max or as forceful as other champions might have been in the past, whatever it may be. I’m happy I just won it my way.
“I’m happy I could go out and be myself and win it Lando’s way, as Andrea would tell me. That certainly makes me happy.”
Speaking in the FIA press conference after today’s race, Norris acknowledged some in the media had questioned whether he was tough enough to win the world championship.
“Like I said at the beginning, could I have gone out and been more of that person you probably want me to be at times? I could have done.
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“I would have been less proud about it in some ways. So that’s why I’m very happy with myself. I kept my cool, I kept to myself, I kept the focus on myself, and I got the most out of how I am.”
Earlier in his F1 career Norris was criticised for his remarks about other drivers, notably a comment he made about Lewis Hamilton in 2020. However he said he always tries to behave respectfully towards all his competitors and immediately regretted some of his past remarks.
“I know at times I say some stupid things, and I say some things about Max, or I might have said some things at times in the past that everyone talks about, about Lewis. Some things I regret and I wish I could take back and never have [them] come out my mouth.
“But I honestly believe I give more respect to anyone else than anyone else. I give more respect to Oscar [Piastri]. I give more respect to Max. I try and give as much respect as I can to Lewis – he’s seven-time world champion. He’s the best driver, you compare him to [Michael] Schumacher, the best driver that’s ever been in Formula 1.
“I’m not even close to that. I might never be. I dream of those kind of things. I dreamed of today, and I’ve managed to achieve one of seven, comparing to him.
“Do I regret some of the comments I might have said in cool-down rooms or whatever it is? Yes. But a lot of those are in the heat of the moment and by the time I’ve said it, I’ve gone, ‘Why the hell did I just say that?’ So, I try and be as genuine as I can.”
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He admitted he has been affected by some of the criticism of his driving, but feels he has come to terms with it.
“I try and always speak the truth,” said Norris. “I never try and give you guys false understandings of things. If I think we’re going to win, I’m going say, ‘I think we’re going to win.’” If I think Red Bull are going be fast or probably going to be fast, I’m going to say it.
“I have no gain by trying to hide things from you guys. And, you know, deep down, do I really hate when you write crap about me? I do.
“It’s also life, and I’ve learned to live with some of those things more. And I also value that everyone has their own opinions – whether they like me or not or think someone else is better or not – like we just spoke about.”
Despite the sensitivity he has felt towards some of the criticism he’s had, Norris says he has stuck to his principles, which made his success more rewarding.
“What I’m happy [about] is that I did things my way this season. I won it in my way, my style of just trying to be a good person and a good team member. And I’m proud about that.
“No matter what other people want to write about and say about it, no one really knows the truth apart from the people on the inside, in terms of what’s going on. I don’t need to listen to those things.
“So as long as I know I’ve done a good job, which I have now proven to myself I have, then that’s the only thing I really need to listen to now: myself and my team. And that’s all I need.”
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2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
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