Norris Leads Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outperformed Oscar Piastri at all of the past five race weekends.
The McLaren driver narrowly beat team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the closing stages of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the title advantage from Piastri by one point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, beat the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Before then, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before sprint qualifying scheduled for the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, trailing 36 points behind Norris, finished in 17th position as his 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 lost control at Turn Four early in the session.
Tsunoda slid over the exit kerbs before rotating through the escape zone, and was fortunate to get away with just a slight brush of the wall.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the final moments of the session, turning around through the quick descending Mergulho turn before the final corner on to the pit straight.
The veteran ended the session in P19, one place behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren pair were far ahead of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber third fastest, 0.619secs slower than Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto ahead of Mercedes' Russell and Alpine's Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.