Lando Norris Tops Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice
The British driver has beaten his teammate at all of the previous five race weekends.
The McLaren driver narrowly beat fellow driver and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the closing stages of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who took the championship lead from Piastri by just one point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, outpaced the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver for most of the session before the sprint shootout set to begin at the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the other racer in the points battle, trailing with a 36-point deficit Norris, finished in P17 as his team followed a unique setup.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to crash, if briefly, when he lost control at Turn Four during the early running.
Tsunoda spun out over the track edges before sliding over the run-off area, and was fortunate to get away with just a light touch of the barrier.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also lost it, at the final moments of the practice, spinning around through the fast downhill Mergulho turn approaching the last turn on to the pit straight.
The veteran ended the session in 19th place, one place behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.
Norris and Piastri were far ahead of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's car third fastest, over half a second behind Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' George Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
