Lando Norris Leads Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has beaten Oscar Piastri at all of the previous five grands prix.
The McLaren driver just pipped team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the dying seconds of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the title advantage from Piastri by just one point after taking the win in Mexico City two weeks ago, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before the sprint shootout due at the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the only other driver in realistic title contention, lying 36 points behind Norris, ended up in P17 as his team followed a unique setup.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to crash, though minor, when he lost control at corner four soon after starting.
The Japanese slid over the curbs on exit before rotating through the run-off area, and was lucky to avoid just a slight brush of the barrier.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the very end of the practice, turning around through the high-speed Mergulho corner before the final bend on to the pit straight.
Hamilton ended the session in 19th, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with the German's Sauber P3, 0.619secs behind Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto ahead of the Mercedes of George Russell and Alpine's Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.