Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice
The British driver has beaten his teammate at each of the past five race weekends.
Lando Norris edged out fellow driver and title rival Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who grabbed the championship lead from Piastri by a single point after taking the win in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, beat the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before sprint qualifying due at 18:30 GMT.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in realistic title contention, lying with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, ended up in 17th position as his team followed a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, though minor, when he rotated at corner four early in the session.
The Japanese spun out over the exit kerbs before sliding over the escape zone, and was fortunate to get away with just a minor contact of the wall.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the conclusion of the session, rotating twice through the fast downhill corner before the last turn on to the start-finish straight.
The veteran ended the session in 19th, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were well clear of the remaining drivers, with the German's car in third, 0.619 seconds slower than Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
