Lando Norris Tops Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outperformed Oscar Piastri at all of the previous five grands prix.
The McLaren driver narrowly beat team-mate and championship contender the Australian for the quickest lap in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The British racer, who grabbed the title advantage from his teammate by a single point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, topped the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before sprint qualifying due at 6:30 PM GMT.
Max Verstappen, the only other driver in the championship fight, sitting 36 points Norris, was classified in P17 as his Red Bull team ran a unique setup.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, albeit lightly, when he spun at Turn Four soon after starting.
The Japanese lost control over the curbs on exit before sliding over the gravel trap, and was lucky to avoid just a slight brush of the wall.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the very end of the practice, turning around through the high-speed Mergulho turn leading to the final corner on to the pit straight.
The veteran wrapped up in 19th, just behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren pair were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, 0.619secs slower than Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was in fourth, with Sauber's Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' George Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
