Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outscored Oscar Piastri at each of the last five race weekends.
The McLaren driver just pipped team-mate and title rival the Australian for the top spot in the closing stages of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who grabbed the points lead from his teammate by one point after taking the win in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver during the running before sprint qualifying scheduled for the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, sitting 36 points behind Norris, ended up in P17 as his Red Bull team ran a unique setup.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to have an incident, though minor, when he rotated at the fourth corner soon after starting.
Tsunoda lost control over the curbs on exit before sliding over the run-off area, and was lucky to avoid just a light touch of the barrier.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the conclusion of the practice, spinning around through the fast downhill Mergulho corner approaching the final bend on to the pit straight.
The veteran wrapped up in 19th, trailing teammate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren drivers were well clear of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car third fastest, over half a second behind Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
