Norris Tops Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outperformed his teammate at each of the past five race weekends.
Lando Norris edged out fellow driver and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who took the points lead 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.
Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before sprint qualifying scheduled for 6:30 PM GMT.
The Red Bull star, the other racer in the points battle, lying with a 36-point deficit Norris, was classified in P17 as his team followed a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to go off, albeit lightly, when he lost control at corner four early in the session.
Tsunoda slid over the curbs on exit before spinning across the gravel trap, and was blessed to avoid just a light touch of the wall.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also lost it, at the conclusion of the practice, turning around through the high-speed Mergulho corner approaching the final bend on to the pit straight.
The veteran ended the session in 19th place, trailing teammate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren drivers were significantly quicker of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber third fastest, 0.619secs slower than Piastri's best.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
