Lando Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice
The British driver has outperformed Oscar Piastri at each of the past five grands prix.
The McLaren driver narrowly beat team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the final moments of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the points lead from Piastri by a single point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, beat the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver throughout the hour before the sprint shootout due at the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the other racer in realistic title contention, lying 36 points behind Norris, ended up in P17 as his Red Bull team opted for a alternative strategy.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to crash, if briefly, when he lost control at the fourth corner during the early running.
Tsunoda lost control over the curbs on exit before rotating through the run-off area, and was lucky to get away with just a light touch of the barrier.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the conclusion of the practice, turning around through the quick descending Mergulho corner approaching the final bend on to the main straight.
Hamilton ended the session in 19th place, one place behind teammate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren pair were far ahead of the other competitors, with the German's car in third, 0.619secs behind Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
