Lando Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outperformed Oscar Piastri at each of the past five race weekends.
Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and championship contender the Australian for the quickest lap in the closing stages of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The British racer, who took the points lead from his teammate by one point after taking the win in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, topped the Melbourne-born driver by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver for most of the session before the sprint shootout due at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the only other driver in realistic title contention, lying 36 points Norris, finished in P17 as his team followed a unique setup.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, though minor, when he rotated at the fourth corner soon after starting.
The Japanese spun out over the curbs on exit before spinning across the run-off area, and was lucky to get away with just a minor contact of the fence.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also spun, at the conclusion of the practice, rotating twice through the high-speed Mergulho turn before the final corner on to the pit straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in P19, one place behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren pair were significantly quicker of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, 0.619secs off Piastri's best.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' George Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
