Norris Edges Out Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
Lando Norris has outscored his teammate at each of the past five race weekends.
Lando Norris narrowly beat fellow driver and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the final moments of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who grabbed the title advantage from Piastri by a single point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, beat the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Before then, Piastri had been the leading McLaren during the running before sprint qualifying due at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in realistic title contention, sitting 36 points behind behind Norris, was classified in P17 as his team opted for a unique setup.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to crash, if briefly, when he rotated at the fourth corner early in the session.
The Japanese lost control over the exit kerbs before sliding over the gravel trap, and was lucky to avoid just a light touch of the fence.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the conclusion of the session, rotating twice through the quick descending Mergulho turn leading to the final bend on to the pit straight.
The veteran ended the session in 19th, just behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren drivers were well clear of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's car P3, 0.619 seconds behind the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
