Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outperformed Oscar Piastri at each of the past five grands prix.
The McLaren driver edged out fellow driver and championship contender the Australian for the quickest lap in the final moments of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the points lead from his teammate by one point after his victory in Mexico City a fortnight back, beat the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair during the running before the sprint shootout scheduled for the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in realistic title contention, trailing with a 36-point deficit Norris, finished in P17 as his team opted for a alternative strategy.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the only driver to crash, if briefly, when he spun at the fourth corner soon after starting.
Tsunoda lost control over the curbs on exit before rotating through the gravel trap, and was lucky to avoid just a slight brush of the fence.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also lost it, at the conclusion of the session, spinning around through the high-speed Mergulho turn before the final corner on to the main straight.
The veteran finished practice 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, 0.619 seconds behind Piastri's best.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
