Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice
Lando Norris has outscored Oscar Piastri at each of the last five grands prix.
Lando Norris edged out fellow driver and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the final moments of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who took the championship lead from Piastri by just one point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair for most of the session before sprint qualifying scheduled for the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, trailing 36 points behind Norris, finished in 17th position as his team ran a alternative strategy.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to crash, if briefly, when he spun at the fourth corner soon after starting.
The Japanese slid over the track edges before rotating through the run-off area, and was blessed to avoid just a light touch of the barrier.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the final moments of the practice, spinning around through the fast downhill Mergulho turn before the final corner on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in P19, one place behind teammate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren pair were well clear of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's car third fastest, 0.619secs slower than Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was in fourth, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
