Norris Edges Out Piastri in Brazilian Practice
Lando Norris has beaten Oscar Piastri at each of the last five race weekends.
Lando Norris narrowly beat team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the points lead from his teammate by just one point after his victory in Mexico City a fortnight back, beat the Melbourne-born driver by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.
Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before sprint qualifying set to begin at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in the points battle, trailing with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, ended up in 17th place as his team opted for a unique setup.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, albeit lightly, when he spun at Turn Four early in the session.
The Japanese lost control over the curbs on exit before rotating through the run-off area, and was fortunate to avoid just a minor contact of the barrier.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the very end of the practice, turning around through the quick descending Mergulho corner leading to the final bend on to the main straight.
The veteran ended the session in 19th place, just behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren pair were well clear of the remaining drivers, with the German's Sauber P3, 0.619secs slower than Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was in fourth, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto ahead of the Mercedes of Russell and Alpine's Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
