Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice
The British driver has outperformed his teammate at each of the previous five race weekends.
The McLaren driver just pipped fellow driver and title rival Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who grabbed the championship lead from Piastri by one point after taking the win in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, beat the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair for most of the session before the sprint shootout due at the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the other racer in realistic title contention, sitting 36 points Norris, was classified in 17th position as his Red Bull team followed a alternative strategy.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, though minor, when he rotated at Turn Four soon after starting.
Tsunoda spun out over the exit kerbs before rotating through the run-off area, and was fortunate to avoid just a light touch of the barrier.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also lost it, at the final moments of the practice, turning around through the fast downhill Mergulho turn leading to the last turn on to the main straight.
The veteran wrapped up in 19th place, just behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were well clear of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, 0.619secs slower than Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
