Norris Edges Out Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
Lando Norris has beaten his teammate at each of the previous five race weekends.
Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the final moments of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who took the points lead from his teammate by just one point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, topped the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Until that point, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair during the running before sprint qualifying scheduled for the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, trailing 36 points behind behind Norris, ended up in 17th place as his Red Bull team followed a unique setup.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to crash, albeit lightly, when he lost control at the fourth corner during the early running.
The Japanese spun out over the track edges before rotating through the gravel trap, and was fortunate to escape with just a light touch of the wall.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the conclusion of the practice, rotating twice through the quick descending Mergulho turn leading to the last turn on to the pit straight.
The veteran ended the session in P19, one place behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren drivers were well clear of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber third fastest, over half a second off Piastri's best.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with Sauber's Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' George Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
