Norris Leads Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice
Lando Norris has outscored Oscar Piastri at each of the past five grands prix.
Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the final moments of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who grabbed the championship lead from Piastri by just one point after his victory in Mexico City a fortnight back, topped the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before the sprint shootout due at 18:30 GMT.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in realistic title contention, lying 36 points Norris, was classified in P17 as his team opted for a unique setup.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to crash, though minor, when he lost control at corner four during the early running.
The Japanese slid over the track edges before spinning across the gravel trap, and was lucky to get away with just a slight brush of the barrier.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also lost it, at the final moments of the practice, rotating twice through the high-speed corner approaching the final bend on to the pit straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in P19, just behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren pair were well clear of the remaining drivers, with the German's Sauber third fastest, 0.619 seconds off Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of George Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
