Norris Edges Out Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outperformed Oscar Piastri at all of the last five grands prix.
Lando Norris narrowly beat fellow driver and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the closing stages of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who grabbed the title advantage from Piastri by just one point after winning in Mexico City recently, beat the Australian by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before sprint qualifying set to begin at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in the championship fight, sitting 36 points Norris, finished in P17 as his Red Bull team followed a different programme.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to go off, though minor, when he rotated at corner four during the early running.
Tsunoda lost control over the track edges before sliding over the gravel trap, and was lucky to avoid just a light touch of the wall.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the conclusion of the practice, spinning around through the high-speed Mergulho corner leading to the last turn on to the pit straight.
The veteran wrapped up in 19th, just behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren drivers were significantly quicker of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's car third fastest, 0.619 seconds behind the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with Sauber's Bortoleto in front of Mercedes' Russell and Alpine's Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
