Lando Norris Edges Out Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
The British driver has outscored his teammate at all of the past five race weekends.
Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the closing stages of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the championship lead from Piastri by a single point after taking the win in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver during the running before sprint qualifying scheduled for the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in realistic title contention, trailing 36 points behind behind Norris, was classified in 17th place as his team opted for a alternative strategy.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to have an incident, though minor, when he lost control at the fourth corner early in the session.
Tsunoda lost control over the exit kerbs before sliding over the run-off area, and was blessed to get away with just a minor contact of the fence.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also lost it, at the final moments of the practice, rotating twice through the quick descending Mergulho turn leading to the final bend on to the pit straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in 19th place, trailing teammate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren drivers were significantly quicker of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's car in third, 0.619 seconds off Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
