Norris Tops Piastri in Brazilian Practice
Lando Norris has outscored his teammate at all of the past five race weekends.
Lando Norris edged out fellow driver and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the closing stages of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who grabbed the championship lead from Piastri by one point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, outpaced the Australian by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair during the running before the sprint shootout set to begin at the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the other racer in the championship fight, lying 36 points behind behind Norris, finished in 17th place as his team opted for a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to crash, albeit lightly, when he spun at Turn Four soon after starting.
Tsunoda lost control over the curbs on exit before sliding over the run-off area, and was blessed to get away with just a minor contact of the barrier.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the final moments of the practice, rotating twice through the fast downhill Mergulho turn approaching the last turn on to the pit straight.
The veteran wrapped up in P19, trailing teammate the Monegasque driver.
Norris and Piastri were significantly quicker of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber third fastest, over half a second off Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was in fourth, with the Sauber of Bortoleto ahead of Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
