How Norris achieved his lifetime's ambition by 'winning it my way'

Lando Norris won the 2025 drivers' championship by two points from Max Verstappen. (bbc)

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The adrenaline beginning to drain out of him, but the euphoria of winning a first world title still very much present, Lando Norris was in reflective mood as he discussed what achieving his lifetime's ambition meant to him.

"I just won it my way," the McLaren driver said. "I'm happy I could go out and be myself."

"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. Not trying to be as aggressive as Max [Verstappen] or as forceful as other champions might have been in the past whatever it may be. My style of just trying to be a good person and a good team member."

The 26-year-old Briton did a lot of talking after climbing out of his car in Abu Dhabi, where his third-place finish in the 2025 season finale ensured he beat Verstappen to the championship by just two points.

That is the way of things in F1, where drivers have to finish their media commitments before getting down to the business of celebrating their success.

Among the thousands of words that came out of Norris' mouth, these were among the most fitting comments at the end of a season that has in many ways reflected his journey to the top.

It has not been easy. There have been bumps in the road. Some even feel Red Bull's Verstappen would have been a more worthy champion, given his revival in the final third of the season.

While Verstappen mounted one of the all-time great comebacks from the start of September, Norris weathered an early rough patch, and rode his own concurrent wave of momentum to achieve his lifetime's ambition in a race that, while tense, always felt like he had it under control.