Norris Leads Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outperformed Oscar Piastri at all of the last five grands prix.
Lando Norris narrowly beat fellow driver and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the closing stages of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the points lead from his teammate by one point after winning in Mexico City two weeks ago, beat the Australian by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver throughout the hour before the sprint shootout due at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in realistic title contention, trailing with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, was classified in 17th position as his team followed a unique setup.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to crash, albeit lightly, when he lost control at corner four during the early running.
Tsunoda lost control over the exit kerbs before sliding over the run-off area, and was fortunate to avoid just a minor contact of the fence.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the final moments of the session, spinning around through the fast downhill Mergulho turn before the final corner on to the start-finish straight.
Hamilton finished practice in 19th place, one place behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were significantly quicker of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car third fastest, 0.619 seconds off Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with Sauber's Bortoleto ahead of the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
