Norris Leads Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice

McLaren drivers in action

Lando Norris has outperformed Oscar Piastri at each of the previous five grands prix.

Lando Norris edged out fellow driver and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the final moments of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Norris, who seized the championship lead from Piastri by a single point after his victory in Mexico City two weeks ago, beat the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.

Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair for most of the session before the sprint shootout scheduled for 6:30 PM GMT.

The Red Bull star, the other racer in the championship fight, trailing 36 points behind behind Norris, ended up in 17th place as his Red Bull team followed a different programme.

Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, though minor, when he rotated at the fourth corner early in the session.

The Japanese lost control over the curbs on exit before spinning across the run-off area, and was fortunate to avoid just a slight brush of the wall.

The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the final moments of the session, rotating twice through the fast downhill Mergulho corner leading to the final corner on to the start-finish straight.

Hamilton wrapped up in 19th, one place behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.

Norris and Piastri were well clear of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber third fastest, over half a second behind the Australian's time.

Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was in fourth, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto ahead of Mercedes' George Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.

Charles Spears
Charles Spears

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