Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
Lando Norris has outscored his teammate at each of the previous five race weekends.
Lando Norris just pipped fellow driver and championship contender the Australian for the fastest time in the closing stages of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the points lead from Piastri by a single point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, topped the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair for most of the session before the sprint shootout due at 6:30 PM GMT.
The Red Bull star, the only other driver in the points battle, sitting 36 points behind behind Norris, finished in 17th position as his team opted for a unique setup.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, though minor, when he rotated at Turn Four during the early running.
The Japanese lost control over the exit kerbs before spinning across the escape zone, and was fortunate to get away with just a light touch of the wall.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also spun, at the very end of the practice, rotating twice through the quick descending Mergulho corner leading to the last turn on to the pit straight.
The veteran ended the session in P19, one place behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren pair were significantly quicker of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car in third, 0.619secs off Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was in fourth, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
