Lando Norris Tops Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
The British driver has beaten Oscar Piastri at each of the last five race weekends.
Lando Norris edged out team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the final moments of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The British racer, who took the championship lead from Piastri by a single point after winning in Mexico City two weeks ago, outpaced the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the leading McLaren for most of the session before sprint qualifying scheduled for the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the only other driver in realistic title contention, sitting 36 points behind Norris, ended up in 17th position as his Red Bull team opted for a unique setup.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to have an incident, if briefly, when he rotated at the fourth corner early in the session.
The Japanese spun out over the curbs on exit before sliding over the run-off area, and was blessed to get away with just a light touch of the wall.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the conclusion of the practice, spinning around through the fast downhill corner approaching the final corner on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion ended the session in 19th, one place behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were well clear of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber P3, 0.619secs off Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto ahead of the Mercedes of George Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
