Lando Norris Tops Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice

McLaren drivers in action

The British driver has outperformed his teammate at each of the previous five race weekends.

Lando Norris narrowly beat fellow driver and title rival Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the closing stages of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Norris, who took the points lead from Piastri by one point after winning in Mexico City two weeks ago, topped the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.

Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair during the running before sprint qualifying scheduled for the evening session.

The Red Bull star, the other racer in the championship fight, sitting 36 points Norris, finished in 17th place as his team opted for a alternative strategy.

Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to crash, though minor, when he spun at the fourth corner during the early running.

Tsunoda slid over the exit kerbs before sliding over the gravel trap, and was lucky to escape with just a minor contact of the wall.

The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also lost it, at the very end of the practice, rotating twice through the fast downhill Mergulho corner before the final bend on to the start-finish straight.

The veteran ended the session in 19th place, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc.

The McLaren pair were significantly quicker 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 Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of George Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.

Ryan Alvarado MD
Ryan Alvarado MD

A seasoned gambling analyst with over a decade of experience in casino gaming and sports betting strategies.