Lando Norris Tops Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
The British driver has outperformed Oscar Piastri at all of the last five race weekends.
Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the dying seconds of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who took the title advantage from his teammate by just one point after taking the win in Mexico City a fortnight back, topped the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before the sprint shootout due at 6:30 PM GMT.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, lying 36 points behind Norris, finished in 17th position as his team opted for a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, though minor, when he spun at the fourth corner early in the session.
The Japanese lost control over the curbs on exit before sliding over the gravel trap, and was lucky to escape with just a light touch of the barrier.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the very end of the practice, turning around through the fast downhill corner leading to the final bend on to the pit straight.
The veteran ended the session in 19th, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were well clear of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, 0.619secs off the Australian's time.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto ahead of Mercedes' George Russell and Alpine's Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
