Norris Leads Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
The British driver has beaten Oscar Piastri at each of the past five grands prix.
Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the final moments of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who grabbed the title advantage from his teammate by a single point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, beat the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver during the running before the sprint shootout due at 18:30 GMT.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in realistic title contention, sitting with a 36-point deficit Norris, finished in P17 as his team ran a unique setup.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the only driver to crash, if briefly, when he lost control at corner four during the early running.
The Japanese spun out over the curbs on exit before sliding over the run-off area, and was lucky to get away with just a minor contact of the fence.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also lost it, at the final moments of the session, rotating twice through the high-speed Mergulho turn before the final bend on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion finished practice in 19th place, trailing team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were well clear of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber P3, 0.619secs behind Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto ahead of the Mercedes of Russell and Alpine's Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
