Norris Edges Out Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
Lando Norris has outscored Oscar Piastri at all of the last five race weekends.
The McLaren driver edged out team-mate and title rival the Australian for the fastest time in the closing stages of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the title advantage from Piastri by just one point after taking the win in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, outpaced the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair during the running before sprint qualifying due at 6:30 PM GMT.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in the points battle, trailing with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, ended up in 17th position as his team ran a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, if briefly, when he rotated at corner four during the early running.
Tsunoda slid over the exit kerbs before sliding over the gravel trap, and was lucky to avoid just a slight brush of the barrier.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the final moments of the practice, turning around through the high-speed corner before the last turn on to the main straight.
Hamilton wrapped up in P19, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were significantly quicker of the rest of the field, with the German's car third fastest, over half a second behind the Australian's time.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was in fourth, with Sauber's Bortoleto ahead of the Mercedes of George Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
