Lando Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
The British driver has beaten Oscar Piastri at each of the past five grands prix.
Lando Norris edged out team-mate and title rival the Australian for the top spot in the final moments of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who grabbed the championship lead from Piastri by a single point after taking the win in Mexico City recently, beat the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before the sprint shootout set to begin at 6:30 PM GMT.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in the points battle, lying with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, ended up in P17 as his team opted for a unique setup.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to go off, albeit lightly, when he spun at Turn Four during the early running.
Tsunoda lost control over the exit kerbs before rotating through the escape zone, and was blessed to get away with just a light touch of the barrier.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also lost it, at the conclusion of the session, spinning around through the quick descending Mergulho turn approaching the final bend on to the start-finish straight.
The veteran finished practice in P19, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were significantly quicker of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car P3, 0.619secs off Piastri's best.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
