Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
Lando Norris has beaten Oscar Piastri at all of the previous five race weekends.
The McLaren driver edged out fellow driver and title rival the Australian for the quickest lap in the final moments of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who grabbed the championship lead from Piastri by just one point after taking the win in Mexico City recently, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair during the running before sprint qualifying due at 18:30 GMT.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in realistic title contention, trailing with a 36-point deficit Norris, was classified in 17th position as his Red Bull team followed a alternative strategy.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to go off, if briefly, when he lost control at corner four early in the session.
The Japanese spun out over the track edges before sliding over the run-off area, and was lucky to avoid just a minor contact of the fence.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the final moments of the practice, turning around through the quick descending Mergulho corner before the last turn on to the pit straight.
Hamilton ended the session in 19th place, trailing team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were well clear of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car in third, 0.619secs behind the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was in fourth, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
