Norris Tops Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outperformed Oscar Piastri at all of the past five grands prix.
Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and title rival the Australian for the top spot in the final moments of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The British racer, who took the championship lead from Piastri by a single point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, outpaced the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair during the running before sprint qualifying due at 18:30 GMT.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in the points battle, sitting 36 points behind Norris, finished in 17th place as his Red Bull team opted for a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to crash, if briefly, when he rotated at the fourth corner during the early running.
Tsunoda lost control over the curbs on exit before spinning across the escape zone, and was blessed to get away with just a slight brush of the wall.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the conclusion of the practice, rotating twice through the quick descending Mergulho turn approaching the final bend on to the main straight.
The veteran wrapped up in 19th, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were significantly quicker of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car third fastest, over half a second slower than the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was in fourth, with the Sauber of Bortoleto ahead of Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
