Lando Norris Edges Out Piastri in Brazilian Practice
Lando Norris has beaten Oscar Piastri at all of the past five race weekends.
The McLaren driver edged out fellow driver and title rival the Australian for the top spot in the closing stages of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The British racer, who took the championship lead from his teammate by one point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, beat the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair for most of the session before sprint qualifying scheduled for 18:30 GMT.
The Red Bull star, the only other driver in the championship fight, trailing 36 points Norris, ended up in 17th position as his Red Bull team opted for a different programme.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, though minor, when he rotated at Turn Four during the early running.
The Japanese lost control over the track edges before sliding over the escape zone, and was blessed to escape with just a light touch of the wall.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also lost it, at the final moments of the practice, rotating twice through the high-speed Mergulho corner before the last turn on to the pit straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in 19th, one place behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.
Norris and Piastri were significantly quicker of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber third fastest, 0.619secs off Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was in fourth, with Sauber's Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of George Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
