Norris Tops Piastri in Brazilian Practice
The British driver has outscored his teammate at all of the previous five grands prix.
Lando Norris edged out fellow driver and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the closing stages of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the championship lead from his teammate by one point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, topped the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair for most of the session before sprint qualifying scheduled for 18:30 GMT.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in realistic title contention, trailing 36 points Norris, finished in 17th place as his team followed a different programme.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to go off, albeit lightly, when he lost control at Turn Four early in the session.
Tsunoda slid over the curbs on exit before rotating through the gravel trap, and was fortunate to get away with just a slight brush of the fence.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the very end of the practice, rotating twice through the fast downhill Mergulho corner approaching the final corner on to the start-finish straight.
Hamilton wrapped up in P19, trailing team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were far ahead of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, 0.619secs behind the Australian's time.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of George Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
