Norris Leads Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice
Lando Norris has outscored Oscar Piastri at each of the previous five race weekends.
Lando Norris just pipped fellow driver and title rival Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the final moments of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who took the championship lead from Piastri by a single point after winning in Mexico City two weeks ago, topped the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Before then, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair for most of the session before the sprint shootout due at 6:30 PM GMT.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in realistic title contention, trailing 36 points behind Norris, ended up in 17th position as his Red Bull team opted for 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 during the early running.
The Japanese slid over the exit kerbs before rotating through the escape zone, and was fortunate to escape with just a minor contact of the barrier.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the conclusion of the practice, rotating twice through the high-speed Mergulho turn leading to the final bend on to the start-finish straight.
The seven-time champion ended the session in 19th, one place behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were well clear of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's car P3, 0.619secs off the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Bortoleto ahead of Mercedes' Russell and Alpine's Gasly and Williams' Sainz.