🔗 Share this article Norris Leads Piastri in Brazilian Practice The British driver has beaten Oscar Piastri at all of the previous five race weekends. The McLaren driver narrowly beat fellow driver and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the dying seconds of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix. Norris, who seized the title advantage from Piastri by one point after winning in Mexico City a fortnight back, outpaced the Australian by 0.023 seconds. Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the leading McLaren during the running before sprint qualifying set to begin at 18:30 GMT. Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, trailing 36 points behind Norris, was classified in 17th place as his Red Bull team opted for a alternative strategy. His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, though minor, when he spun at Turn Four during the early running. Tsunoda lost control over the track edges before sliding over the run-off area, and was fortunate to escape with just a slight brush of the barrier. The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also lost it, at the final moments of the practice, rotating twice through the fast downhill corner approaching the final corner on to the pit straight. The veteran ended the session in P19, trailing teammate the Monegasque driver. The McLaren pair were significantly quicker of the remaining drivers, with the German's Sauber P3, 0.619 seconds off Piastri's pace. The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of George Russell and Alpine's Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.