Norris Leads Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outscored Oscar Piastri at all of the past five race weekends.
Lando Norris narrowly beat team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the final moments of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the points lead from his teammate by one point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, topped the Melbourne-born driver by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver during the running before the sprint shootout due at the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the only other driver in the points battle, lying with a 36-point deficit Norris, finished in 17th place as his Red Bull team ran a alternative strategy.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the only driver to have an incident, though minor, when he lost control at Turn Four soon after starting.
The Japanese lost control over the exit kerbs before spinning across the gravel trap, and was fortunate to escape with just a light touch of the wall.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the conclusion of the practice, rotating twice through the fast downhill Mergulho turn approaching the final corner on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion finished practice in 19th, trailing teammate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren pair were far ahead of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's car P3, 0.619secs off Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with Sauber's Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of George Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
