Lando Norris Leads Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outperformed Oscar Piastri at all of the previous five race weekends.
The McLaren driver just pipped team-mate and title rival the Australian for the top spot in the closing stages of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who grabbed the championship lead from Piastri by a single point after his victory in Mexico City two weeks ago, topped the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before sprint qualifying set to begin at 6:30 PM GMT.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in the points battle, lying 36 points behind Norris, was classified in 17th position as his team ran a unique setup.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to crash, albeit lightly, when he spun at the fourth corner soon after starting.
Tsunoda lost control over the track edges before sliding over the gravel trap, and was fortunate to avoid just a minor contact of the barrier.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also lost it, at the final moments of the practice, turning around through the high-speed corner approaching the final corner on to the pit straight.
Hamilton ended the session in 19th place, one place behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren drivers were well clear of the other competitors, with the German's Sauber in third, 0.619secs behind the Australian's time.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was in fourth, with Sauber's Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.