Norris Tops Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
The British driver has outscored Oscar Piastri at each of the last five grands prix.
The McLaren driver just pipped team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the final moments of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The British racer, who grabbed the points lead from his teammate by one point after taking the win in Mexico City a fortnight back, topped the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver throughout the hour before the sprint shootout due at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, lying with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, ended up in 17th place as his Red Bull team followed a alternative strategy.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to crash, though minor, when he rotated at the fourth corner early in the session.
The Japanese spun out over the curbs on exit before spinning across the gravel trap, and was blessed to avoid just a slight brush of the barrier.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also spun, at the final moments of the session, rotating twice through the fast downhill Mergulho turn approaching the final bend on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in 19th, one place behind teammate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren pair were far ahead of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's car P3, 0.619secs off the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was in fourth, with the Sauber of Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
