Lando Norris Leads Piastri in Brazilian Practice
The British driver has outscored his teammate at each of the last five race weekends.
Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the closing stages of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who took the championship lead from Piastri by one point after his victory in Mexico City a fortnight back, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair for most of the session before sprint qualifying due at 18:30 GMT.
Max Verstappen, the only other driver in the championship fight, lying with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, finished in 17th place as his Red Bull team followed a different programme.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to go off, albeit lightly, when he spun at Turn Four early in the session.
The Japanese slid over the exit kerbs before sliding over the run-off area, and was blessed to escape with just a light touch of the barrier.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the final moments of the practice, turning around through the quick descending Mergulho turn leading to the final bend on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion finished practice in P19, trailing team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were far ahead of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, 0.619 seconds slower than Piastri's best.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of Russell and Alpine's Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
