Lando Norris Tops Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice
The British driver has beaten Oscar Piastri at all of the last five grands prix.
Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the closing stages of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who grabbed the championship lead from his teammate by a single point after taking the win in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.
Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before the sprint shootout due at the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the other racer in the points battle, sitting 36 points Norris, was classified in 17th place as his team followed a different programme.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to have an incident, though minor, when he spun at the fourth corner soon after starting.
The Japanese lost control over the exit kerbs before sliding over the escape zone, and was lucky to escape with just a slight brush of the fence.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also lost it, at the conclusion of the session, rotating twice through the quick descending Mergulho turn leading to the final corner on to the main straight.
Hamilton wrapped up in 19th, just behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.
Norris and Piastri were well clear of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car P3, 0.619secs off Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
