Lando Norris Tops Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outperformed his teammate at each of the previous five grands prix.
The McLaren driver just pipped team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the championship lead from his teammate by a single point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, topped the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before sprint qualifying due at 6:30 PM GMT.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, trailing 36 points Norris, was classified in 17th position as his Red Bull team opted for a alternative strategy.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the only driver to crash, albeit lightly, when he lost control at the fourth corner early in the session.
The Japanese spun out over the curbs on exit before rotating through the gravel trap, and was blessed to escape with just a light touch of the barrier.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the conclusion of the practice, rotating twice through the quick descending Mergulho turn before the last turn on to the start-finish straight.
Hamilton finished practice in 19th, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren pair were well clear of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's car in third, 0.619 seconds slower than Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto in front of Mercedes' Russell and Alpine's Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
