Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice
Lando Norris has outperformed Oscar Piastri at each of the past five grands prix.
The McLaren driver just pipped team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the closing stages of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the championship lead from his teammate by just one point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, topped the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren during the running before sprint qualifying set to begin at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, lying with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, finished in 17th place as his Red Bull team followed a alternative strategy.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, though minor, when he spun at the fourth corner early in the session.
Tsunoda spun out over the exit kerbs before rotating through the gravel trap, and was blessed to get away with just a slight brush of the fence.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also spun, at the conclusion of the session, turning around through the quick descending Mergulho corner before the final bend on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in P19, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were significantly quicker of the rest of the field, with the German's car P3, 0.619 seconds slower than Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' George Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
