Norris Tops Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
The British driver has beaten Oscar Piastri at each of the past five race weekends.
Lando Norris narrowly beat fellow driver and championship contender the Australian for the top spot in the closing stages of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the championship lead from his teammate by a single point after taking the win in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the leading McLaren for most of the session before sprint qualifying due at the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, trailing with a 36-point deficit Norris, ended up in 17th position as his team opted for a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to have an incident, though minor, when he rotated at Turn Four early in the session.
The Japanese lost control over the exit kerbs before sliding over the escape zone, and was fortunate to escape with just a light touch of the barrier.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the conclusion of the practice, spinning around through the fast downhill Mergulho corner leading to the final bend on to the main straight.
Hamilton wrapped up in 19th, just behind teammate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren pair were well clear of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's car in third, 0.619 seconds slower than Piastri's best.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto in front of Mercedes' George Russell and Alpine's Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
