Lando Norris Leads Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
Lando Norris has outscored Oscar Piastri at each of the previous five grands prix.
Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the closing stages of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who took the championship lead from his teammate by one point after his victory in Mexico City a fortnight back, topped the Melbourne-born driver by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.
Before then, Piastri had been the leading McLaren for most of the session before the sprint shootout set to begin at 18:30 GMT.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in realistic title contention, sitting 36 points behind Norris, was classified in 17th position as his team followed a alternative strategy.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, though minor, when he spun at the fourth corner soon after starting.
Tsunoda lost control over the track edges before spinning across the escape zone, and was fortunate to escape with just a light touch of the wall.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the very end of the practice, rotating twice through the fast downhill Mergulho corner leading to the final bend on to the start-finish straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in 19th place, trailing teammate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren drivers were significantly quicker of the other competitors, with the German's Sauber third fastest, over half a second off the Australian's time.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
