Lando Norris Edges Out Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has beaten Oscar Piastri at all of the last five race weekends.
The McLaren driver edged out team-mate and championship contender the Australian for the top spot in the final moments of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the title advantage from his teammate by a single point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, beat the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Until that point, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver throughout the hour before the sprint shootout set to begin at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the only other driver in realistic title contention, sitting with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, finished in 17th place as his team ran a different programme.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to have an incident, though minor, when he spun at corner four soon after starting.
Tsunoda spun out over the track edges before sliding over the gravel trap, and was lucky to escape with just a slight brush of the barrier.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also spun, at the final moments of the practice, rotating twice through the high-speed Mergulho turn before the final bend on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in 19th, one place behind teammate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren drivers were well clear of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car P3, 0.619secs behind Piastri's best.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto ahead of Mercedes' Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
