Lando Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outperformed Oscar Piastri at each of the previous five race weekends.
Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and championship contender the Australian for the top spot in the final moments of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who grabbed the championship lead from his teammate by one point after his victory in Mexico City two weeks ago, outpaced the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Until that point, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before the sprint shootout set to begin at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the only other driver in the championship fight, sitting with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, ended up in P17 as his Red Bull team opted for a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, if briefly, when he rotated at the fourth corner soon after starting.
Tsunoda lost control over the track edges before sliding over the gravel trap, and was fortunate to escape with just a light touch of the wall.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also spun, at the final moments of the session, spinning around through the quick descending corner leading to the final corner on to the pit straight.
Hamilton wrapped up in 19th, one place behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were significantly quicker of the other competitors, with the German's car P3, 0.619 seconds off Piastri's best.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
