Lando Norris Tops Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has beaten Oscar Piastri at each of the last five grands prix.
The McLaren driver just pipped fellow driver and title rival Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the final moments of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the points lead from Piastri by just one point after winning in Mexico City recently, beat the Melbourne-born driver by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.
Before then, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before sprint qualifying set to begin at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, lying 36 points behind behind Norris, ended up in P17 as his Red Bull team followed a unique setup.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to go off, though minor, when he rotated at Turn Four soon after starting.
The Japanese lost control over the exit kerbs before rotating through the run-off area, and was lucky to escape with just a minor contact of the barrier.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also lost it, at the very end of the session, turning around through the quick descending Mergulho turn leading to the last turn on to the main straight.
Hamilton wrapped up in P19, one place behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren drivers were well clear of the rest of the field, with the German's car third fastest, over half a second off the Australian's time.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with Sauber's Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of George Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
