Norris Tops Piastri in Brazilian Practice
Lando Norris has outscored Oscar Piastri at each of the last five grands prix.
Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the closing stages of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the championship lead from his teammate by just one point after his victory in Mexico City recently, beat the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before the sprint shootout set to begin at 6:30 PM GMT.
Max Verstappen, the only other driver in realistic title contention, trailing 36 points behind behind Norris, ended up in 17th place as his team followed a alternative strategy.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, albeit lightly, when he lost control at corner four during the early running.
Tsunoda spun out over the curbs on exit before sliding over the gravel trap, and was blessed to avoid just a minor contact of the wall.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also spun, at the very end of the session, turning around through the quick descending Mergulho turn approaching the final corner on to the start-finish straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in 19th place, one place behind teammate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren pair were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with the German's Sauber in third, 0.619secs slower than Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of Russell and Alpine's Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
