Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outscored his teammate at each of the previous five grands prix.
Lando Norris just pipped fellow driver and title rival Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the final moments of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The British racer, who took the championship lead from Piastri by a single point after taking the win in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, beat the Australian by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.
Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before the sprint shootout set to begin at 6:30 PM GMT.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, lying 36 points behind Norris, ended up in 17th place as his Red Bull team followed a different programme.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the only driver to crash, if briefly, when he spun at Turn Four during the early running.
The Japanese lost control over the curbs on exit before rotating through the run-off area, and was fortunate to avoid just a light touch of the barrier.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also lost it, at the conclusion of the practice, spinning around through the fast downhill corner before the final bend on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion finished practice in 19th place, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren pair were well clear of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, over half a second slower than the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with Sauber's Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
