🔗 Share this article Norris Leads Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session Lando Norris has outperformed Oscar Piastri at all of the previous five grands prix. The McLaren driver edged out team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Norris, who grabbed the championship lead from his teammate by a single point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, beat the Australian by 0.023 seconds. Until that point, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver throughout the hour before sprint qualifying due at 18:30 GMT. Max Verstappen, the only other driver in the points battle, sitting with a 36-point deficit Norris, finished in 17th position as his Red Bull team ran a unique setup. His teammate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, if briefly, when he spun at the fourth corner soon after starting. The Japanese spun out over the curbs on exit before rotating through the run-off area, and was lucky to get away with just a slight brush of the fence. The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the final moments of the practice, turning around through the fast downhill corner leading to the last turn on to the start-finish straight. The seven-time champion ended the session in 19th, just behind teammate the Monegasque driver. The McLaren drivers were significantly quicker of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber P3, over half a second slower than Piastri's pace. The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was in fourth, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto ahead of Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.