Lando Norris Edges Out Piastri in Brazilian Practice
Lando Norris has beaten Oscar Piastri at all of the last five race weekends.
Lando Norris edged out fellow driver and title rival the Australian for the top spot in the closing stages of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who grabbed the title advantage from Piastri by one point after taking the win in Mexico City two weeks ago, topped the Melbourne-born driver by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before sprint qualifying due at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in the championship fight, trailing 36 points Norris, finished in 17th place as his team followed a different programme.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the only driver to crash, albeit lightly, when he rotated at the fourth corner early in the session.
The Japanese spun out over the track edges before sliding over the escape zone, and was blessed to escape with just a light touch of the fence.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the very end of the session, turning around through the fast downhill Mergulho turn before the final corner on to the main straight.
The veteran ended the session in 19th place, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were well clear of the remaining drivers, with the German's car P3, 0.619secs slower than Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of George Russell and Alpine's Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
