Norris Leads Piastri in Brazilian Practice
The British driver has beaten Oscar Piastri at each of the last five race weekends.
The McLaren driver just pipped fellow driver and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the final moments of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who took the points lead from Piastri by a single point after taking the win in Mexico City a fortnight back, outpaced the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver throughout the hour before the sprint shootout set to begin at the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, lying 36 points behind behind Norris, ended up in 17th position as his team followed a unique setup.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to go off, though minor, when he lost control at corner four soon after starting.
The Japanese slid over the curbs on exit before rotating through the gravel trap, and was fortunate to avoid just a slight brush of the barrier.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also spun, at the conclusion of the session, rotating twice through the quick descending Mergulho turn leading to the last turn on to the pit straight.
The veteran ended the session in 19th, one place behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were well clear of the rest of the field, with the German's car in third, 0.619 seconds slower than Piastri's best.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was in fourth, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' George Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
