Norris Tops Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice
Lando Norris has outscored Oscar Piastri at each of the past five grands prix.
The McLaren driver edged out team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the final moments of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the title advantage from his teammate by one point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, outpaced the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair for most of the session before sprint qualifying scheduled for the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the other racer in the points battle, trailing with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, was classified in 17th position as his Red Bull team followed a unique setup.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to have an incident, if briefly, when he spun at corner four early in the session.
Tsunoda slid over the track edges before sliding over the run-off area, and was fortunate to escape with just a minor contact of the barrier.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also lost it, at the final moments of the practice, turning around through the quick descending Mergulho corner approaching the last turn on to the pit straight.
The veteran wrapped up in P19, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were significantly quicker of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car P3, 0.619secs slower than Piastri's best.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was in fourth, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of George Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
