Norris Edges Out Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outscored Oscar Piastri at each of the last five race weekends.
Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the closing stages of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who grabbed the championship lead from his teammate by a single point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, topped the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren for most of the session before the sprint shootout set to begin at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the only other driver in the championship fight, trailing 36 points behind Norris, finished in 17th position as his team ran a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, albeit lightly, when he spun at the fourth corner soon after starting.
The Japanese spun out over the exit kerbs before spinning across the run-off area, and was blessed to escape with just a slight brush of the wall.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also lost it, at the conclusion of the practice, turning around through the quick descending corner before the last turn on to the start-finish straight.
The veteran finished practice in P19, just behind teammate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren pair were significantly quicker of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber third fastest, over half a second off the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto ahead of Mercedes' George Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
