Norris Edges Out Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outperformed his teammate at all of the past five race weekends.
Lando Norris edged out team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the closing stages of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who took the championship lead from his teammate by a single point after taking the win in Mexico City two weeks ago, outpaced the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Before then, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair during the running before sprint qualifying due at 18:30 GMT.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in the points battle, trailing 36 points Norris, finished in P17 as his team followed a unique setup.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, albeit lightly, when he lost control at Turn Four soon after starting.
The Japanese slid over the track edges before rotating through the run-off area, and was lucky to escape with just a slight brush of the wall.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the conclusion of the session, turning around through the quick descending Mergulho turn approaching the final bend on to the main straight.
Hamilton ended the session in P19, one place behind teammate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren drivers were well clear of the other competitors, with the German's Sauber in third, 0.619secs off Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with Sauber's Bortoleto ahead of Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
