Norris Leads Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice
Lando Norris has outscored Oscar Piastri at all of the previous five grands prix.
Lando Norris edged out team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the points lead from Piastri by one point after taking the win in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, outpaced the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before the sprint shootout set to begin at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in realistic title contention, sitting 36 points behind behind Norris, finished in P17 as his Red Bull team ran a different programme.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to have an incident, though minor, when he rotated at the fourth corner early in the session.
The Japanese slid over the curbs on exit before sliding over the gravel trap, and was lucky to get away with just a light touch of the wall.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also spun, at the very end of the session, turning around through the fast downhill Mergulho corner before the last turn on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in 19th, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with the German's car third fastest, 0.619 seconds slower than Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was in fourth, with the Sauber of Bortoleto in front of Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
