Lando Norris Tops Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice
The British driver has beaten Oscar Piastri at all of the last five race weekends.
Lando Norris edged out fellow driver and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the closing stages of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the title advantage from Piastri by just one point after winning in Mexico City two weeks ago, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Before then, Piastri had been the leading McLaren during the running before sprint qualifying due at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, lying 36 points behind Norris, was classified in P17 as his team followed a different programme.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to go off, albeit lightly, when he spun at corner four early in the session.
The Japanese lost control over the curbs on exit before spinning across the run-off area, and was lucky to avoid just a slight brush of the fence.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the final moments of the session, spinning around through the fast downhill Mergulho turn leading to the final corner on to the start-finish straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in 19th place, just behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with the German's Sauber P3, 0.619 seconds off Piastri's best.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' George Russell and Alpine's Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
