Lando Norris Leads Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has beaten his teammate at each of the past five grands prix.
Lando Norris edged out fellow driver 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 just one point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, beat the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver throughout the hour before sprint qualifying scheduled for the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the only other driver in the points battle, lying 36 points behind Norris, ended up in 17th position as his Red Bull team ran a unique setup.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to crash, though minor, when he spun at Turn Four soon after starting.
Tsunoda slid over the exit kerbs before rotating through the escape zone, and was lucky to avoid just a slight brush of the barrier.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also spun, at the final moments of the session, turning around through the fast downhill corner approaching the last turn on to the pit straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in P19, trailing teammate the Monegasque driver.
Norris and Piastri were far ahead of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's car third fastest, 0.619 seconds slower than Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' George Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
