Lando Norris Edges Out Piastri in Brazilian Practice
Lando Norris has outperformed Oscar Piastri at each of the past five race weekends.
The McLaren driver just pipped team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the closing stages of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the points lead from Piastri by one point after his victory in Mexico City a fortnight back, beat the Australian by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.
Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren during the running before sprint qualifying set to begin at the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, sitting with a 36-point deficit Norris, finished in 17th position as his team followed a different programme.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to go off, though minor, when he lost control at Turn Four during the early running.
Tsunoda spun out over the track edges before spinning across the run-off area, and was fortunate to escape with just a slight brush of the wall.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the conclusion of the session, turning around through the quick descending Mergulho corner leading to the final corner on to the pit straight.
The veteran wrapped up in 19th, one place behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren pair were well clear of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's car in third, 0.619 seconds off Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto ahead of Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
