Lando Norris Tops Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has beaten his teammate at all of the past five race weekends.
Lando Norris edged out team-mate and championship contender the Australian for the top spot in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the title advantage from Piastri by just one point after his victory in Mexico City a fortnight back, outpaced the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before sprint qualifying set to begin at 18:30 GMT.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in the points battle, trailing 36 points behind behind Norris, was classified in P17 as his Red Bull team opted for a alternative strategy.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to go off, if briefly, when he lost control at Turn Four soon after starting.
Tsunoda lost control over the exit kerbs before rotating through the escape zone, and was blessed to get away with just a minor contact of the fence.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the final moments of the session, rotating twice through the quick descending corner approaching the final corner on to the main straight.
Hamilton wrapped up in 19th, one place behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were well clear of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's car in third, 0.619secs slower than Piastri's best.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto in front of Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
