Lando Norris Leads Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
The British driver has beaten Oscar Piastri at all of the previous five race weekends.
Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the dying seconds of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the points lead from his teammate by just one point after winning in Mexico City recently, topped the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver throughout the hour before sprint qualifying set to begin at 6:30 PM GMT.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, lying with a 36-point deficit Norris, ended up in 17th place as his Red Bull team followed a unique setup.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to go off, if briefly, when he rotated at the fourth corner during the early running.
Tsunoda spun out over the track edges before sliding over the escape zone, and was blessed to avoid just a slight brush of the wall.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the conclusion of the practice, turning around through the high-speed Mergulho turn before the final bend on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion finished practice in 19th, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were well clear of the rest of the field, with the German's Sauber third fastest, over half a second slower than Piastri's best.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
