Norris Tops Piastri in Brazilian Practice
Lando Norris has outperformed Oscar Piastri at all of the past five grands prix.
The McLaren driver narrowly beat team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the dying seconds of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who took the championship lead from his teammate by one point after winning in Mexico City a fortnight back, beat the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Before then, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair during the running before sprint qualifying scheduled for the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in the championship fight, trailing with a 36-point deficit Norris, was classified in 17th place as his Red Bull team followed a unique setup.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, though minor, when he lost control at Turn Four during the early running.
The Japanese lost control over the exit kerbs before sliding over the escape zone, and was lucky to escape with just a slight brush of the barrier.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the very end of the session, spinning around through the high-speed Mergulho turn leading to the final corner on to the main straight.
The veteran finished practice in P19, just behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were far ahead of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber P3, 0.619secs slower than Piastri's best.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was in fourth, with Sauber's Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of George Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
