Lando Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice
Lando Norris has beaten Oscar Piastri at all of the last five race weekends.
Lando Norris just pipped fellow driver and championship contender the Australian for the fastest time in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the championship lead from his teammate by just one point after winning in Mexico City a fortnight back, topped the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before sprint qualifying due at 18:30 GMT.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in realistic title contention, lying 36 points behind Norris, finished in 17th place as his team opted for a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to crash, albeit lightly, when he spun at Turn Four during the early running.
Tsunoda lost control over the exit kerbs before rotating through the escape zone, and was lucky to avoid just a slight brush of the fence.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the conclusion of the practice, rotating twice through the quick descending Mergulho corner approaching the last turn on to the start-finish straight.
The seven-time champion ended the session in 19th place, trailing teammate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren pair were well clear of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber third fastest, 0.619 seconds slower than the Australian's time.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was in fourth, with the Sauber of Bortoleto ahead of the Mercedes of George Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
