Norris Did It His Way: McLaren Star Proud To Become World Champion While Staying 'Honest'

Last Updated:December 08, 2025, 09:02 IST

Lando Norris clinched his first F1 world championship at Yas Marina with McLaren, finishing third behind Max Verstappen and Oscar Piastri, staying true to his honest racing style.

An emotional Lando Norris after winning his maiden F1 championship (AP)

“For what is a man? What has he got?

If not himself, then he has naught."

Frank Sinatra’s words may as well have been ringing in Lando Norris’ helmet as he crossed the finish line at Yas Marina.

Because in the end, Lando Norris became world champion by doing it his way.

The McLaren star sealed his maiden Formula 1 title with a calm, controlled third-place finish behind race-winner and title rival Max Verstappen, and teammate Oscar Piastri. But the result was only one small part of the story.

‘I did it my way’

“I believe I won the championship my way — by being a fair driver, by trying to be an honest driver," Norris said in his champion’s press conference.

For years, critics have questioned whether he lacked the ruthlessness required to beat drivers like Verstappen in wheel-to-wheel combat.

Norris never bought into that idea — nor did he change who he was to chase the title.

Even on Sunday, with everything at stake, he stayed true to that ethos.

‘I don’t wake up caring whether I beat Max’

Norris, refreshingly candid, made it clear that this championship wasn’t about proving anything to anyone — least of all Verstappen.

“My motivation is not to prove I’m better than someone else. I’m not going to wake up tomorrow and go, ‘I’m so happy because I beat Max.’ Deep down, I don’t care about that."

What mattered to him was far more personal.

“I made my people happy. That’s all I care about. My mom’s happy. My dad’s happy. My sisters, my brother, my friends — that’s all I need in my life."

Memories, sacrifices… and tears

Norris was calm for most of the race  — until the final laps, when the memories started flooding in: childhood karting days, sacrifices from his parents, the years of dreaming and grinding.

“I started to shake a little bit," he admitted.

When he finally crossed the line and the McLaren radio erupted in celebration, the emotions broke through. Norris’ voice cracked, tears fell — the world got to hear just how much this meant.

‘This isn’t my championship. It’s ours.’

“So much goes into achieving what we did today," Norris said. “This is not my world championship. This is ours."

He spoke directly to his parents: “For the first time, I really get to say thank you to them — to make them feel like everything they did was worth it."

After years of potential, heartbreak, close calls, and growth, Lando Norris finally became a Formula 1 world champion.

And in the most fitting way imaginable — he did it his way.

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