Norris Leads Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
The British driver has outscored his teammate at each of the previous five race weekends.
Lando Norris just pipped fellow driver and title rival the Australian for the quickest lap in the final moments of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who grabbed the title advantage from Piastri by a single point after taking the win in Mexico City recently, beat the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver during the running before sprint qualifying set to begin at the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in realistic title contention, trailing 36 points behind Norris, finished in 17th place as his team opted for a alternative strategy.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the only driver to crash, albeit lightly, when he rotated at corner four during the early running.
The Japanese slid over the exit kerbs before sliding over the run-off area, and was fortunate to get away with just a slight brush of the barrier.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the conclusion of the practice, turning around through the high-speed Mergulho turn approaching the final bend on to the start-finish straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in 19th, just behind teammate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren pair were far ahead of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's car third fastest, over half a second off Piastri's best.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
