Norris Leads Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outperformed Oscar Piastri at all of the past five race weekends.
The McLaren driver edged out team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the closing stages of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the championship lead from Piastri by just one point after winning in Mexico City two weeks ago, topped the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Before then, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair during the running before the sprint shootout set to begin at 6:30 PM GMT.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, lying with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, ended up in P17 as his Red Bull team ran a unique setup.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to go off, albeit lightly, when he rotated at corner four early in the session.
The Japanese spun out over the curbs on exit before spinning across the run-off area, and was blessed to escape with just a minor contact of the fence.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also lost it, at the very end of the practice, spinning around through the fast downhill Mergulho corner leading to the final bend on to the start-finish straight.
Hamilton wrapped up in P19, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren pair were well clear of the rest of the field, with the German's Sauber in third, over half a second behind the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was in fourth, with the Sauber of Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of George Russell and Alpine's Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
