Norris Leads Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice
Lando Norris has outscored Oscar Piastri at each of the last five grands prix.
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 Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who took the title advantage from Piastri by just one point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, outpaced the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before sprint qualifying due at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in the points battle, sitting 36 points Norris, ended up in 17th place as his team ran a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to crash, albeit lightly, when he rotated at corner four soon after starting.
The Japanese slid over the curbs on exit before sliding over the gravel trap, and was fortunate to avoid just a minor contact of the barrier.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the very end of the session, spinning around through the fast downhill corner before the last turn on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion ended the session in P19, trailing team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were significantly quicker of the remaining drivers, with the German's Sauber P3, over half a second slower than Piastri's best.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was in fourth, with the Sauber of Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
