Norris Edges Out Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outscored Oscar Piastri at all of the last five grands prix.
Lando Norris narrowly beat team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the final moments of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who grabbed the championship lead from Piastri by just one point after taking the win in Mexico City two weeks ago, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
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 the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in realistic title contention, lying with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, ended up in P17 as his Red Bull team followed a different programme.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to crash, though minor, when he lost control at Turn Four during the early running.
Tsunoda spun out over the exit kerbs before sliding over the run-off area, and was lucky to get away with just a minor contact of the barrier.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the very end of the session, turning around through the quick descending Mergulho corner before the last turn on to the start-finish straight.
Hamilton finished practice in P19, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were well clear of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, 0.619secs behind Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was in fourth, with the Sauber of Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
