Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice
The British driver has outperformed his teammate at all of the past five race weekends.
Lando Norris narrowly beat team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the dying seconds of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who grabbed the championship lead from his teammate by a single point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, topped the Australian by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the leading McLaren for most of the session before sprint qualifying scheduled for 18:30 GMT.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, sitting 36 points behind Norris, finished in 17th place as his Red Bull team opted for a unique setup.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to crash, though minor, when he lost control at Turn Four early in the session.
The Japanese lost control over the exit kerbs before sliding over the gravel trap, and was lucky to escape with just a light touch of the fence.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also spun, at the very end of the practice, rotating twice through the fast downhill Mergulho corner before the final corner on to the pit straight.
Hamilton wrapped up in 19th place, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were significantly quicker of the rest of the field, with the German's Sauber third fastest, 0.619secs slower than Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was in fourth, with Sauber's Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
