Lando Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice
Lando Norris has outperformed Oscar Piastri at all of the last five race weekends.
Lando Norris just pipped fellow driver and title rival Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the dying seconds of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the points lead from his teammate by a single point after winning in Mexico City two weeks ago, topped the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before sprint qualifying due at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the only other driver in the championship fight, trailing with a 36-point deficit Norris, finished in P17 as his Red Bull team followed a different programme.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to crash, though minor, when he rotated at corner four during the early running.
Tsunoda lost control over the curbs on exit before rotating through the escape zone, and was fortunate to escape with just a minor contact of the barrier.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the final moments of the session, turning around through the high-speed Mergulho corner approaching the final bend on to the pit straight.
The veteran wrapped up in 19th place, one place behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were well clear of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car third fastest, over half a second slower than Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of George Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
