Norris Tops Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice
Lando Norris has outperformed Oscar Piastri at all of the previous five race weekends.
The McLaren driver edged out team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the final moments of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who grabbed the points lead from his teammate by one point after winning in Mexico City two weeks ago, outpaced the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Before then, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver during the running before sprint qualifying scheduled for 6:30 PM GMT.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, sitting with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, ended up in 17th position as his team followed a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to go off, though minor, when he spun at corner four soon after starting.
Tsunoda spun out over the curbs on exit before rotating through the gravel trap, and was fortunate to avoid just a light touch of the wall.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the very end of the practice, rotating twice through the quick descending corner before the final corner on to the pit straight.
The seven-time champion finished practice in 19th place, one place behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren pair were well clear of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's car third fastest, 0.619secs behind Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Bortoleto ahead of Mercedes' George Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
