Lando Norris Leads Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has beaten his teammate at each of the past five grands prix.
The McLaren driver just pipped team-mate and championship contender the Australian for the quickest lap in the closing stages of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the championship lead from his teammate by one point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, topped the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Until that point, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair for most of the session before sprint qualifying due at 6:30 PM GMT.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, trailing 36 points behind Norris, was classified in 17th position as his Red Bull team opted for a alternative strategy.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to go off, if briefly, when he lost control at Turn Four during the early running.
Tsunoda spun out over the track edges before sliding over the escape zone, and was blessed to get away with just a light touch of the barrier.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also spun, at the conclusion of the practice, turning around through the fast downhill Mergulho corner leading to the last turn on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion finished practice in 19th, just behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were far ahead of the other competitors, with the German's Sauber third fastest, 0.619secs off Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto in front of Mercedes' Russell and Alpine's Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
