Lando Norris Leads Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has beaten Oscar Piastri at each of the last five grands prix.
Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and title rival the Australian for the top spot in the final moments of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the points lead from his teammate by just one point after taking the win in Mexico City two weeks ago, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren during the running before the sprint shootout scheduled for the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, lying with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, finished in 17th place as his Red Bull team ran a alternative strategy.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, though minor, when he lost control at the fourth corner during the early running.
The Japanese slid over the track edges before sliding over the escape zone, and was fortunate to avoid just a minor contact of the barrier.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the final moments of the practice, turning around through the quick descending Mergulho turn approaching the last turn on to the start-finish straight.
Hamilton wrapped up in 19th place, just behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were far ahead of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's car P3, 0.619 seconds behind Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
