Lando Norris Edges Out Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has beaten Oscar Piastri at each of the previous five grands prix.
The McLaren driver narrowly beat fellow driver and championship contender the Australian for the quickest lap in the final moments of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who grabbed the points lead from Piastri by just one point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the leading McLaren for most of the session before sprint qualifying set to begin at 18:30 GMT.
Max Verstappen, the only other driver in the championship fight, lying with a 36-point deficit Norris, was classified in P17 as his Red Bull team opted for a alternative strategy.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, if briefly, when he rotated at corner four early in the session.
Tsunoda slid over the curbs on exit before rotating through the gravel trap, and was blessed to avoid just a slight brush of the barrier.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the conclusion of the practice, spinning around through the fast downhill Mergulho turn leading to the final corner on to the main straight.
Hamilton wrapped up in 19th place, just behind teammate the Monegasque driver.
Norris and Piastri were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with the German's car third fastest, over half a second off Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was in fourth, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto ahead of the Mercedes of George Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
