Lando Norris Tops Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice
Lando Norris has outperformed Oscar Piastri at each of the previous five grands prix.
The McLaren driver narrowly beat fellow driver and title rival the Australian for the fastest time in the dying seconds of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the championship lead from his teammate by just one point after winning in Mexico City recently, beat the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair during the running before sprint qualifying scheduled for 18:30 GMT.
The Red Bull star, the other racer in realistic title contention, trailing 36 points Norris, was classified in 17th place as his Red Bull team followed a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to crash, though minor, when he rotated at Turn Four during the early running.
The Japanese slid over the exit kerbs before sliding over the escape zone, and was fortunate to get away with just a light touch of the fence.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the final moments of the practice, rotating twice through the fast downhill Mergulho turn before the final corner on to the start-finish straight.
The seven-time champion finished practice in 19th place, just behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber P3, 0.619 seconds slower than Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was in fourth, with Sauber's Bortoleto in front of Mercedes' George Russell and Alpine's Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
