Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outperformed Oscar Piastri at each of the previous five grands prix.
The McLaren driver edged out team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the final moments of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who took the championship lead from his teammate by one point after taking the win in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, topped the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver throughout the hour before the sprint shootout scheduled for 6:30 PM GMT.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in realistic title contention, trailing 36 points behind Norris, was classified in 17th place as his team ran a alternative strategy.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the only driver to have an incident, if briefly, when he lost control at Turn Four early in the session.
The Japanese lost control over the track edges before sliding over the gravel trap, and was fortunate to avoid just a minor contact of the wall.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also spun, at the final moments of the practice, turning around through the quick descending Mergulho corner before the final corner on to the main straight.
Hamilton ended the session in 19th, just behind teammate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren pair were far ahead of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber P3, over half a second behind the Australian's time.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' Russell and Alpine's Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
