Lando Norris Leads Piastri in Brazilian Practice
Lando Norris has beaten Oscar Piastri at all of the previous five grands prix.
Lando Norris narrowly beat fellow driver and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the dying seconds of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The British racer, who grabbed the points lead from Piastri by one point after winning in Mexico City recently, topped the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver for most of the session before the sprint shootout set to begin at 18:30 GMT.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in realistic title contention, trailing with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, was classified in 17th place as his team ran a unique setup.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, albeit lightly, when he rotated at corner four early in the session.
The Japanese spun out over the exit kerbs before rotating through the escape zone, and was fortunate to get away with just a minor contact of the fence.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the very end of the practice, rotating twice through the quick descending Mergulho turn leading to the last turn on to the pit straight.
Hamilton wrapped up in 19th, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with the German's car third fastest, 0.619secs off the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was in fourth, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' George Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
