Lando Norris Leads Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has beaten Oscar Piastri at each of the previous five race weekends.
The McLaren driver edged out team-mate and title rival the Australian for the fastest time in the final moments of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the points lead from Piastri by one point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, topped the Melbourne-born driver by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.
Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver throughout the hour before sprint qualifying due at 18:30 GMT.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in the points battle, lying 36 points Norris, ended up in 17th position as his Red Bull team followed a unique setup.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to crash, though minor, when he lost control at Turn Four soon after starting.
The Japanese spun out over the curbs on exit before spinning across the run-off area, and was lucky to get away with just a minor contact of the barrier.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the final moments of the session, rotating twice through the fast downhill Mergulho corner approaching the final bend on to the pit straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in 19th place, one place behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were far ahead of the rest of the field, with the German's Sauber P3, 0.619secs behind Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto in front of Mercedes' Russell and Alpine's Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
