Norris Edges Out Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice
The British driver has outperformed his teammate at each of the last five race weekends.
Lando Norris narrowly beat fellow driver and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the closing stages of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the championship lead from Piastri by a single point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, outpaced the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the leading McLaren for most of the session before the sprint shootout due at the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the only other driver in the championship fight, lying with a 36-point deficit Norris, was classified in 17th place as his Red Bull team ran a unique setup.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, though minor, when he lost control at Turn Four during the early running.
Tsunoda lost control over the exit kerbs before sliding over the escape zone, and was lucky to avoid just a light touch of the fence.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the conclusion of the session, turning around through the quick descending Mergulho turn leading to the final corner on to the main straight.
The veteran finished practice in 19th place, just behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren drivers were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with the German's car P3, over half a second off Piastri's best.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with Sauber's Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' George Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
