Norris Tops Piastri in Brazilian Practice
The British driver has beaten Oscar Piastri at all of the previous five race weekends.
Lando Norris edged out team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the final moments of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who took the title advantage from Piastri by a single point after winning in Mexico City a fortnight back, outpaced the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair during the running before the sprint shootout set to begin at the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the other racer in the championship fight, lying with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, ended up in P17 as his team followed a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, albeit lightly, when he lost control at the fourth corner soon after starting.
The Japanese lost control over the track edges before spinning across the gravel trap, and was blessed to get away with just a minor contact of the wall.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also spun, at the final moments of the practice, turning around through the fast downhill Mergulho turn approaching the last turn on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion ended the session in P19, trailing team-mate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren drivers were well clear of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, over half a second slower than the Australian's time.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was in fourth, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of George Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
