Norris Edges Out Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
The British driver has beaten his teammate at each of the last five grands prix.
Lando Norris narrowly beat team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the final moments of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The British racer, who took the points lead from his teammate by a single point after winning in Mexico City two weeks ago, beat the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Before then, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver during the running before sprint qualifying scheduled for 18:30 GMT.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in the points battle, sitting with a 36-point deficit Norris, finished in 17th position as his Red Bull team ran a different programme.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to crash, though minor, when he lost control at Turn Four early in the session.
The Japanese slid over the track edges before sliding over the run-off area, and was lucky to escape with just a light touch of the wall.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the final moments of the session, turning around through the fast downhill Mergulho turn leading to the final bend on to the pit straight.
The veteran ended the session in 19th place, just behind teammate the Monegasque driver.
Norris and Piastri were significantly quicker of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber third fastest, over half a second slower than the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was in fourth, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' George Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
