Norris Leads Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice
Lando Norris has outperformed Oscar Piastri at all of the last five race weekends.
The McLaren driver 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 grabbed the championship lead from his teammate by just one point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, beat the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver for most of the session before the sprint shootout due at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in realistic title contention, sitting 36 points behind Norris, was classified in 17th place as his team opted for a different programme.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to crash, though minor, when he rotated at corner four soon after starting.
Tsunoda lost control over the exit kerbs before sliding over the run-off area, and was blessed to avoid just a light touch of the fence.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the very end of the practice, turning around through the high-speed Mergulho turn leading to the final corner on to the pit straight.
The veteran finished practice in P19, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were well clear of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, over half a second slower than Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was in fourth, with the Sauber of Bortoleto in front of Mercedes' George Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
