Norris Edges Out Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice
Lando Norris has outscored his teammate at all of the last five grands prix.
Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the final moments of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who took the points lead from Piastri by a single point after taking the win in Mexico City recently, outpaced the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Until that point, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before the sprint shootout set to begin at 6:30 PM GMT.
The Red Bull star, the other racer in realistic title contention, sitting with a 36-point deficit Norris, finished in 17th position as his Red Bull team ran a alternative strategy.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to crash, albeit lightly, when he lost control at Turn Four early in the session.
The Japanese slid over the track edges before sliding over the gravel trap, and was fortunate to avoid just a slight brush of the wall.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also spun, at the conclusion of the practice, rotating twice through the high-speed Mergulho corner leading to the final bend on to the start-finish straight.
The veteran finished practice in 19th, one place behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren pair were well clear of the other competitors, with the German's car P3, over half a second slower than Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto in front of Mercedes' Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
