Norris Tops Piastri in Brazilian Practice
Lando Norris has outscored Oscar Piastri at all of the previous five race weekends.
The McLaren driver edged out team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the championship lead from his teammate by just one point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair during the running before sprint qualifying scheduled for 18:30 GMT.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in the championship fight, trailing 36 points behind behind Norris, ended up in 17th place as his Red Bull team opted for a alternative strategy.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to crash, though minor, when he lost control at corner four early in the session.
The Japanese lost control over the curbs on exit before sliding over the escape zone, and was lucky to avoid just a light touch of the barrier.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also lost it, at the final moments of the practice, spinning around through the high-speed Mergulho turn approaching the final bend on to the start-finish straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in 19th, trailing team-mate the Monegasque driver.
Norris and Piastri were significantly quicker of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car P3, over half a second off Piastri's best.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto in front of Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
