Norris Leads Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice

McLaren drivers in action

The British driver has beaten his teammate at all of the last five grands prix.

The McLaren driver just pipped fellow driver and title rival the Australian for the fastest time in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Norris, who seized the championship lead from his teammate by one point after taking the win in Mexico City two weeks ago, outpaced the Australian by 0.023 seconds.

Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren for most of the session before the sprint shootout scheduled for the evening session.

The Red Bull star, the other racer in the points battle, sitting with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, finished in 17th position as his team ran a different programme.

His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to go off, if briefly, when he spun at Turn Four during the early running.

The Japanese lost control over the curbs on exit before rotating through the gravel trap, and was fortunate to escape with just a light touch of the wall.

The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the very end of the session, turning around through the fast downhill Mergulho turn leading to the final corner on to the main straight.

Hamilton wrapped up in P19, trailing team-mate Charles Leclerc.

The McLaren drivers were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car P3, 0.619secs off Piastri's pace.

The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.

Kristopher Gonzalez
Kristopher Gonzalez

Agricultural economist with over 15 years of experience in sustainable farming and rural development across the UK.