Norris Edges Out Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice
Lando Norris has outperformed his teammate at each of the previous five grands prix.
Lando Norris edged out team-mate and title rival the Australian for the fastest time in the final moments of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the championship lead from Piastri by one point after winning in Mexico City two weeks ago, outpaced the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Before then, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver during the running before sprint qualifying scheduled for the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the other racer in the points battle, lying with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, was classified in P17 as his Red Bull team opted for a alternative strategy.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, if briefly, when he spun at corner four soon after starting.
The Japanese lost control over the exit kerbs before sliding over the escape zone, and was fortunate to escape with just a minor contact of the wall.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also spun, at the very end of the practice, spinning around through the quick descending Mergulho turn approaching the last turn on to the start-finish straight.
The veteran wrapped up in 19th, one place behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren drivers were far ahead of the rest of the field, with the German's car P3, 0.619 seconds behind Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was in fourth, with the Sauber of Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
