Lando Norris Edges Out Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outperformed his teammate at all of the previous five grands prix.
Lando Norris narrowly beat team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the closing stages of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who grabbed the points lead from his teammate by one point after taking the win in Mexico City two weeks ago, beat the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Until that point, Piastri had been the leading McLaren for most of the session before sprint qualifying set to begin at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in the points battle, sitting with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, ended up in P17 as his Red Bull team ran a alternative strategy.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, albeit lightly, when he rotated at the fourth corner early in the session.
Tsunoda spun out over the track edges before sliding over the run-off area, and was blessed to get away with just a light touch of the fence.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the final moments of the session, turning around through the fast downhill Mergulho turn approaching the final corner on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in 19th, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were well clear of the remaining drivers, with the German's car third fastest, 0.619secs slower than Piastri's best.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto ahead of the Mercedes of George Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
