How Norris achieved his lifetime’s ambition by winning it my way
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 long journey to the top
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Norris’ path to the pinnacle began in kart racing as a child and wound through junior formulas and years of development — a trajectory defined by steady improvement rather than instant stardom. Wikipedia+1
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 all the way to ultimate success in Abu Dhabi, in a race that, while tense, always felt like he had it under control.
After he celebrated on the podium, where he was drenched in champagne by race-winner Verstappen and McLaren team-mate Oscar Piastri, as the three title contenders finished at the front just as they had started the race, you could almost feel Norris coming to terms with his achievement in real time as he discussed how he had got to where he had.
There were some very touching comments about how much it meant to him to make so many people who were important to him happy, especially his parents and his colleagues at McLaren.
“I feel proud but not because I’m going to wake up tomorrow and go, ‘I beat everyone,'” he said. “I’m not proud because I get to just say I’m a world champion. I’m proud because I feel like I made a lot of other people happy.”
And as he talked, he began to open up on who he is, his honesty, his determination to be true to himself and his wish to be open about his feelings, even the difficult ones, a trait for which he has been criticised from time to time.
“Could I have gone out and been more of that person you probably want me to be at times? I could have done,” he said.
“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,
The Final Race & the Anticipation Around Cadillac
The final race of the season unfolded with all the tension and theatre Formula 1 could offer a championship hanging in the balance, strategies pushed to the limit, and every lap carrying the weight of a year’s work. As the engines cooled in Abu Dhabi and the dust settled on a dramatic finale, fans and teams alike turned their attention forward. CC.c
How Lando Norris achieved his lifelong ambition by winning it “his way”
When Norris stepped onto the podium at the 2025 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, he wasn’t just celebrating a race — he was realising a childhood dream. That third-place finish was enough to crown him 2025 Formula 1 World Championship champion, edging out long-time rival Max Verstappen by a mere two points. AP News+2RaceFans+2
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The 2025 season was up and down: he opened with a win, then went through rough patches — poor qualifying, a crash, and a dip in performance — even as his teammate Oscar Piastri looked stronger and briefly led the championship. The Guardian+2ESPN.com+2
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By August, a retirement at the Dutch Grand Prix dropped him 34 points behind Piastri — a deficit that seemed nearly insurmountable. ESPN.com+1
Abu Dhabi: composure under pressure
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In the finale, despite starting on the front row and getting passed by Piastri early, Norris held his nerve — fending off pressure from rivals including Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc — and secured the crucial third place. ESPN.com+2Formula 1® – The Official F1® Website+2
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That podium finish sealed the championship: 423 points to Verstappen’s 421. Even though Verstappen won the race, Norris’s consistency across the season paid off. Formula 1® – The Official F1® Website+2RaceFans+2
My way: Winning with honesty, calm and character
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Rather than aggressive tactics, Norris embraced what he calls “his way” — fair racing, self-confidence and composure under pressure. He repeatedly emphasized that his triumph was not about beating rivals harshly, but about being true to himself and his roots. Reuters+2The Guardian+2
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The emotions after crossing the finish line were raw and honest: a culmination of years of ambition, sacrifice, perseverance — and staying grounded when many doubted he had the “killer instinct” to win a title. Formula 1® – The Official F1® Website+2The Guardian+2
Why this win matters for Norris and beyond
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Norris becomes the 35th driver in F1 history to win the world title, and the 11th from Great Britain. He’s also the first champion for McLaren since his countryman Lewis Hamilton in 2008 — ending a 17-year drought for the iconic team. Formula 1® – The Official F1® Website+2Sky Sports+2
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More than that, his victory sends a message: that consistency, self-belief and integrity racing “your way” — can triumph even in the cutthroat, high-stakes world of Formula 1.
