Norris Edges Out Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
The British driver has outperformed Oscar Piastri at each of the previous five race weekends.
Lando Norris narrowly beat team-mate and title rival the Australian for the fastest time in the closing stages of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the championship lead from his teammate by one point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, outpaced the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Until that point, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair for most of the session before the sprint shootout scheduled for the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the only other driver in realistic title contention, trailing with a 36-point deficit Norris, finished in 17th place as his team ran a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to crash, though minor, when he rotated at Turn Four early in the session.
The Japanese lost control over the curbs on exit before sliding over the gravel trap, and was blessed to avoid just a minor contact of the wall.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also lost it, at the final moments of the practice, spinning around through the quick descending Mergulho turn approaching the final bend on to the pit straight.
The veteran wrapped up in 19th place, just behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were well clear of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's car P3, 0.619 seconds behind Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
