Lando Norris Edges Out Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
The British driver has outperformed his teammate at each of the last five grands prix.
Lando Norris narrowly beat team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the closing stages of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the championship lead from his teammate by just one point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, beat the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver for most of the session before the sprint shootout due at 6:30 PM GMT.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in realistic title contention, lying with a 36-point deficit Norris, finished in 17th position as his Red Bull team followed a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, albeit lightly, when he lost control at the fourth corner soon after starting.
The Japanese lost control over the track edges before spinning across the gravel trap, and was lucky to get away with just a light touch of the barrier.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the conclusion of the practice, rotating twice through the high-speed Mergulho turn leading to the final bend on to the pit straight.
The veteran ended the session in P19, just behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren drivers were significantly quicker of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber third fastest, 0.619 seconds behind Piastri's best.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto ahead of Mercedes' George Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
