Lando Norris Leads Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice
The British driver has outscored his teammate at each of the previous five grands prix.
The McLaren driver just pipped fellow driver and championship contender the Australian for the quickest lap in the final moments of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who took the points lead from his teammate by a single point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, topped the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Before then, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver during the running before sprint qualifying scheduled for 18:30 GMT.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, sitting with a 36-point deficit Norris, ended up in 17th place as his team opted for a alternative strategy.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to go off, though minor, when he spun at Turn Four during the early running.
Tsunoda lost control over the exit kerbs before spinning across the escape zone, and was lucky to avoid just a light touch of the barrier.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also lost it, at the conclusion of the practice, rotating twice through the fast downhill Mergulho turn approaching the last turn on to the pit straight.
Hamilton ended the session in 19th place, just behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with the German's Sauber in third, 0.619secs slower than the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of George Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
