Lando Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has beaten his teammate at all of the last five race weekends.
Lando Norris just pipped fellow driver and title rival the Australian for the quickest lap in the final moments of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who took the points lead from his teammate by a single point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, beat the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before sprint qualifying due at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, lying 36 points Norris, ended up in 17th position as his team opted for a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, albeit lightly, when he spun at the fourth corner during the early running.
The Japanese lost control over the curbs on exit before sliding over the run-off area, and was blessed to get away with just a minor contact of the fence.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the final moments of the session, turning around through the fast downhill Mergulho corner before the final bend on to the start-finish straight.
The seven-time champion ended the session in P19, just behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were well clear of the remaining drivers, with the German's Sauber third fastest, 0.619 seconds behind Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' Russell and Alpine's Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.