Norris Leads Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
The British driver has outperformed his teammate at each of the past five grands prix.
Lando Norris edged out fellow driver and title rival the Australian for the fastest time in the closing stages of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who took the title advantage from Piastri by a single point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, beat the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before sprint qualifying scheduled for 6:30 PM GMT.
The Red Bull star, the only other driver in realistic title contention, trailing 36 points behind behind Norris, was classified in P17 as his Red Bull team ran a unique setup.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, if briefly, when he lost control at the fourth corner early in the session.
The Japanese lost control over the curbs on exit before spinning across the gravel trap, and was fortunate to escape with just a slight brush of the wall.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the very end of the practice, turning around through the fast downhill corner approaching the final corner on to the pit straight.
The veteran wrapped up in P19, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were significantly quicker of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car third fastest, 0.619secs off the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was in fourth, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
