Norris Edges Out Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice
The British driver has outperformed Oscar Piastri at all of the past five race weekends.
Lando Norris narrowly beat fellow driver and title rival the Australian for the top spot in the dying seconds of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the championship lead from his teammate by a single point after taking the win in Mexico City two weeks ago, topped the Australian by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.
Until that point, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver throughout the hour before sprint qualifying due at the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the only other driver in the championship fight, sitting 36 points behind Norris, ended up in P17 as his team ran a alternative strategy.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to crash, though minor, when he lost control at Turn Four during the early running.
Tsunoda lost control over the track edges before sliding over the run-off area, and was lucky to get away with just a light touch of the wall.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the conclusion of the practice, spinning around through the fast downhill corner leading to the last turn on to the pit straight.
Hamilton ended the session in 19th place, one place behind teammate the Monegasque driver.
Norris and Piastri were well clear of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber P3, 0.619secs slower than the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of George Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
