Lando Norris Leads Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
The British driver has outscored Oscar Piastri at all of the past five grands prix.
The McLaren driver just pipped team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the final moments of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the title advantage from Piastri by just one point after taking the win in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair during the running before the sprint shootout set to begin at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in realistic title contention, trailing 36 points behind behind Norris, ended up in 17th position as his Red Bull team opted for a unique setup.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to have an incident, if briefly, when he lost control at Turn Four early in the session.
The Japanese lost control over the curbs on exit before spinning across the gravel trap, and was lucky to escape with just a light touch of the fence.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also lost it, at the very end of the session, turning around through the quick descending Mergulho corner before the final corner on to the pit straight.
The veteran finished practice in 19th, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren pair were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car in third, 0.619secs behind Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto in front of Mercedes' Russell and Alpine's Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
