Norris Tops Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice
Lando Norris has outscored Oscar Piastri at each of the last five grands prix.
Lando Norris edged out fellow driver and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the title advantage from Piastri by just one point after taking the win in Mexico City two weeks ago, topped the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair during the running before the sprint shootout due at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in the points battle, lying with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, was classified in P17 as his Red Bull team ran a alternative strategy.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to crash, though minor, when he lost control at corner four during the early running.
The Japanese lost control over the track edges before spinning across the escape zone, and was blessed to avoid just a minor contact of the barrier.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also spun, at the very end of the session, rotating twice through the high-speed corner approaching the final corner on to the main straight.
The veteran wrapped up in 19th, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were well clear of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's car third fastest, 0.619secs behind Piastri's best.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was in fourth, with Sauber's Bortoleto ahead of the Mercedes of Russell and Alpine's Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
