Norris Leads Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outscored Oscar Piastri at each of the past five grands prix.
Lando Norris edged out fellow driver and championship contender the Australian for the top spot in the closing stages of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the title advantage from Piastri by just one point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, outpaced the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the leading McLaren for most of the session before sprint qualifying set to begin at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, lying 36 points behind behind Norris, was classified in 17th position as his team ran a different programme.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, though minor, when he lost control at Turn Four during the early running.
The Japanese lost control over the track edges before spinning across the gravel trap, and was blessed to get away with just a slight brush of the barrier.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the final moments of the practice, rotating twice through the quick descending corner leading to the last turn on to the pit straight.
Hamilton finished practice in 19th, one place behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were significantly quicker of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber P3, over half a second behind Piastri's best.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Bortoleto in front of Mercedes' Russell and Alpine's Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
