Lando Norris makes 'forceful' point in Max Verstappen comparison

Lando Norris has expressed his pride in being able to win the F1 drivers' championship in a fashion befitting who he is.

The McLaren driver channelled his inner Frank Sinatra over the 2025 campaign, triumphing over Max Verstappen by two points and team-mate Oscar Piastri by 13 points, to take the title doing it his way.

Despite having to dig deep to pull himself out of the 34-point hole he was left in after retiring from the Dutch Grand Prix, the British driver did not want to emulate the "aggressive" Red Bull driver, who surrendered his crown for the first time since his coronation in 2021, or other "forceful" champions of seasons gone by.

The Dutchman is known for his uncompromising nature and no-holds-barred attitude towards racing, something that has proven divisive throughout the paddock during his years in F1, in a similar way to Sebastian Vettel's ruthlessness or how Michael Schumacher was a polarising figure at times for his on-track antics.

"That’s one of the things that makes me most proud," Norris told media, including RacingNews365, when discussing how he won the championship in a way people did not believe possible.

"I feel like I have 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 or as forceful as other champions might have been in the past – whatever it may be."

The 11-time grand prix winner defied the usual expectations of an F1 world champion, remaining unapologetically himself and not leaning into the characteristics often associated with winning.

"I’m happy. I won it my way," he said, echoing the famous song from 1969. "I’m happy I could go out and be myself and win it Lando’s way, as Andrea [Stella, McLaren team principal] would tell me."

He conceded he could have altered his approach, but that it would have lessened the satisfaction of winning his first title.

"That certainly makes me happy... Could I have gone out and been more of that person you probably want me to be at times? I could have done. I would have been less proud about it in some ways," he added.

"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."