Lando Norris Tops Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice
The British driver has outperformed his teammate at all of the past 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 Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who grabbed the title advantage from his teammate by a single point after winning in Mexico City two weeks ago, beat the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren for most of the session before the sprint shootout due at 6:30 PM GMT.
Max Verstappen, the only other driver in the championship fight, lying with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, was classified in 17th position as his team opted for a unique setup.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to crash, though minor, when he lost control at the fourth corner during the early running.
The Japanese lost control over the curbs on exit before sliding over the escape zone, and was fortunate to get away with just a slight brush of the fence.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the final moments of the practice, rotating twice through the quick descending corner before the final bend on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in 19th, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were significantly quicker of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, 0.619 seconds slower than Piastri's best.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was in fourth, with the Sauber of Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
