Lando Norris Leads Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice
The British driver has outperformed his teammate at each of the past five race weekends.
The McLaren driver edged out fellow driver and title rival the Australian for the top spot in the closing stages of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the championship lead from his teammate by one point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, topped the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver during the running before the sprint shootout set to begin at 6:30 PM GMT.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in realistic title contention, sitting 36 points behind behind Norris, finished in P17 as his team followed a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to go off, albeit lightly, when he spun at the fourth corner soon after starting.
The Japanese lost control over the track edges before rotating through the run-off area, and was fortunate to get away with just a minor contact of the fence.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also spun, at the very end of the practice, turning around through the fast downhill Mergulho turn leading to the last turn on to the main straight.
Hamilton wrapped up in P19, just behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.
Norris and Piastri were significantly quicker of the rest of the field, with the German's car third fastest, 0.619 seconds behind the Australian's time.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was in fourth, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto ahead of Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
