Norris Leads Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
The British driver has outscored Oscar Piastri at all of the past five race weekends.
Lando Norris edged out team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the championship lead from his teammate by a single point after winning in Mexico City recently, outpaced the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before sprint qualifying due at 6:30 PM GMT.
The Red Bull star, the other racer in the points battle, trailing 36 points behind behind Norris, finished in 17th place as his team opted for a alternative strategy.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the only driver to crash, though minor, when he lost control at the fourth corner during the early running.
The Japanese slid over the exit kerbs before spinning across the run-off area, and was blessed to avoid just a minor contact of the fence.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the final moments of the session, rotating twice through the quick descending Mergulho turn approaching the final bend on to the pit straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in P19, trailing team-mate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren drivers were far ahead of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, 0.619secs off Piastri's best.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of Russell and Alpine's Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
