Lando Norris Edges Out Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outperformed Oscar Piastri at all of the past five grands prix.
The McLaren driver just pipped fellow driver and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the dying seconds of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the points lead from Piastri by just one point after his victory in Mexico City recently, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Before then, Piastri had been the leading McLaren for most of the session before sprint qualifying due at the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the other racer in realistic title contention, sitting with a 36-point deficit Norris, was classified in P17 as his Red Bull team opted for a alternative strategy.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to crash, albeit lightly, when he spun at Turn Four early in the session.
The Japanese spun out over the curbs on exit before sliding over the escape zone, and was fortunate to avoid just a slight brush of the barrier.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the conclusion of the practice, turning around through the quick descending corner approaching the final bend on to the pit straight.
The seven-time champion finished practice in 19th, just behind teammate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren drivers were significantly quicker of the rest of the field, with the German's car third fastest, 0.619secs behind the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of George Russell and Alpine's Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
