Norris Leads Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outperformed Oscar Piastri at each of the last five race weekends.
Lando Norris narrowly beat team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the final moments of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who grabbed the points lead from his teammate by a single point after taking the win in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, outpaced the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver throughout the hour before the sprint shootout due at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in realistic title contention, sitting 36 points behind behind Norris, was classified in P17 as his team opted for a unique setup.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to crash, albeit lightly, when he spun at Turn Four early in the session.
Tsunoda lost control over the curbs on exit before sliding over the escape zone, and was blessed to avoid just a light touch of the wall.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also lost it, at the final moments of the session, rotating twice through the quick descending corner leading to the final corner on to the pit straight.
The seven-time champion finished practice in 19th place, just behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were far ahead of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's car third fastest, over half a second slower than Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
