Winning A World Championship, in my own way! - Norris

In some ways, I still can't believe it! I am a Formula 1 World Champion. I have done what all of us racing drivers dream of, right from when we step into karts for the first time as kids: to be the best driver in the world. I didn't even expect it here! But I can say now, despite all the challenges I've faced through this year, I made it out on top. And I did it, fair and square, as myself. I've been told by rivals in the outerworld, and other team bosses time and time again that I didn't have the makings of a Champion. I was 'too soft', too emotional, too critical on myself. And I made plenty of mistakes, I didn't have a perfect season like some champions did. But I didn't give up. I couldn't. This was the chance I had been waiting for, for 7 years, staying with McLaren for this chance... a car that could win the title, and all I needed now was to get it right. Winning a race is one thing, and I cried when I first won in Miami in 2024, just as I did stepping out of the car last weekend knowing I was a world champion! But the two achievements are worlds apart, and it took so, so much more to win the world championship.

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