Lando Norris Leads Piastri in Brazilian Practice
The British driver has outperformed his teammate at all of the previous five race weekends.
The McLaren driver just pipped team-mate and championship contender the Australian for the fastest time in the closing stages of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the points lead from Piastri by one point after his victory in Mexico City two weeks ago, beat the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver during the running before sprint qualifying due at 18:30 GMT.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, lying with a 36-point deficit Norris, finished in 17th place as his Red Bull team followed a different programme.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to go off, though minor, when he lost control at the fourth corner early in the session.
Tsunoda slid over the exit kerbs before sliding over the run-off area, and was lucky to get away with just a light touch of the fence.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton 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.
The veteran finished practice in 19th place, trailing team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren pair were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car in third, 0.619secs behind the Australian's time.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was in fourth, with the Sauber of Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of George Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
