Lando Norris Tops Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
Lando Norris has outperformed his teammate at all of the past five race weekends.
The McLaren driver edged out fellow driver and title rival the Australian for the top spot in the closing stages of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who took the championship lead from Piastri by one point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, topped the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before sprint qualifying due at the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, lying 36 points Norris, was classified in 17th position as his team ran a different programme.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to crash, if briefly, when he lost control at Turn Four during the early running.
The Japanese slid over the curbs on exit before sliding over the run-off area, and was lucky to avoid just a slight brush of the fence.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also spun, at the very end of the session, spinning around through the quick descending Mergulho turn before the final bend on to the pit straight.
The seven-time champion finished practice in 19th, trailing teammate the Monegasque driver.
Norris and Piastri were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with the German's car in third, over half a second slower than Piastri's best.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto ahead of Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
