Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice
Lando Norris has outscored his teammate at all of the past five race weekends.
The McLaren driver edged out fellow driver and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the dying seconds of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the points lead from his teammate by just one point after taking the win in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, topped the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before sprint qualifying scheduled for the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in the championship fight, lying 36 points behind behind Norris, ended up in P17 as his team ran a unique setup.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the only driver to crash, albeit lightly, when he lost control at the fourth corner soon after starting.
The Japanese spun out over the track edges before rotating through the gravel trap, and was lucky to get away with just a light touch of the fence.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also lost it, at the final moments of the practice, rotating twice through the high-speed Mergulho turn approaching the final bend on to the start-finish straight.
The seven-time champion ended the session in 19th, one place behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were far ahead of the other competitors, with the German's Sauber third fastest, 0.619 seconds off the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was in fourth, with Sauber's Bortoleto ahead of Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
