Lando Norris Edges Out Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
The British driver has beaten Oscar Piastri at all of the past five grands prix.
Lando Norris narrowly beat fellow driver and championship contender the Australian for the fastest time in the final moments of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the title advantage from his teammate by one point after taking the win in Mexico City a fortnight back, beat the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver throughout the hour before sprint qualifying due at 6:30 PM GMT.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, lying 36 points Norris, was classified in 17th place 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 Turn Four during the early running.
Tsunoda spun out over the exit kerbs before sliding over the escape zone, and was fortunate to get away with just a minor contact of the barrier.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also lost it, at the final moments of the practice, spinning around through the fast downhill Mergulho turn leading to the final corner on to the start-finish straight.
The seven-time champion finished practice in 19th, just behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren pair were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car P3, over half a second behind Piastri's best.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto ahead of Mercedes' George Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
