Norris Tops Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice
Lando Norris has beaten Oscar Piastri at all of the last five grands prix.
The McLaren driver narrowly beat fellow driver and title rival the Australian for the fastest time in the dying seconds of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the championship lead from his teammate by a single point after winning in Mexico City a fortnight back, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver for most of the session before the sprint shootout scheduled for the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the only other driver in the points battle, lying with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, was classified in 17th position as his team followed a different programme.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to go off, though minor, when he spun at the fourth corner soon after starting.
The Japanese slid over the curbs on exit before rotating through the run-off area, and was blessed to avoid just a light touch of the fence.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also lost it, at the conclusion of the session, turning around through the high-speed Mergulho corner before the last turn on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion ended the session in 19th place, one place behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were far ahead of the other competitors, with the German's car third fastest, 0.619secs off Piastri's best.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was in fourth, with the Sauber of Bortoleto ahead of the Mercedes of Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
