Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
Lando Norris has outperformed his teammate at each of the last five race weekends.
The McLaren driver edged out fellow driver and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the championship lead from his teammate by a single point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, topped the Australian by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver throughout the hour before the sprint shootout due at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the only other driver in the points battle, sitting with a 36-point deficit Norris, was classified in 17th place as his Red Bull team ran a alternative strategy.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to go off, though minor, when he rotated at the fourth corner during the early running.
The Japanese spun out over the curbs on exit before sliding over the run-off area, and was fortunate to avoid just a light touch of the barrier.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the conclusion of the session, turning around through the quick descending Mergulho turn before the final bend on to the pit straight.
Hamilton wrapped up in P19, trailing team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were well clear of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber third fastest, 0.619 seconds behind Piastri's best.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was in fourth, with the Sauber of Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
