Lando Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
The British driver has outperformed his teammate at all of the last five race weekends.
Lando Norris edged out fellow driver and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the final moments of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who grabbed the points lead from his teammate by just one point after winning in Mexico City a fortnight back, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver 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 the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the only other driver in the points battle, trailing with a 36-point deficit Norris, finished in 17th place as his team followed a alternative strategy.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, though minor, when he spun at Turn Four soon after starting.
The Japanese spun out over the exit kerbs before spinning across the gravel trap, and was blessed to get away with just a light touch of the barrier.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the final moments of the practice, spinning around through the quick descending corner approaching the final bend on to the pit straight.
The veteran wrapped up in P19, one place behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren drivers were significantly quicker of the rest of the field, with the German's Sauber third fastest, 0.619 seconds slower than the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with Sauber's Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
