Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice
The British driver has outperformed Oscar Piastri at each of the past five grands prix.
The McLaren driver just pipped team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the closing stages of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The British racer, who grabbed the title advantage from his teammate by one point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, beat the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver throughout the hour before the sprint shootout scheduled for the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, lying 36 points behind Norris, was classified in 17th place as his Red Bull team opted for a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to crash, though minor, when he rotated at corner four soon after starting.
Tsunoda slid over the track edges before rotating through the escape zone, and was lucky to avoid just a light touch of the barrier.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the very end of the practice, spinning around through the fast downhill Mergulho turn leading to the final bend on to the main straight.
The veteran wrapped up in P19, just behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were far ahead of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's car third fastest, 0.619secs off the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was in fourth, with Sauber's Bortoleto in front of Mercedes' Russell and Alpine's Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
