Lando Norris Leads Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
Lando Norris has beaten his teammate at each of the last five race weekends.
Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the final moments of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the championship lead from Piastri by a single point after taking the win in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, topped the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Before then, Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before sprint qualifying scheduled for 6:30 PM GMT.
The Red Bull star, the only other driver in the championship fight, trailing 36 points behind Norris, ended up in 17th position as his Red Bull team followed a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to crash, though minor, when he spun at corner four during the early running.
The Japanese slid over the exit kerbs before sliding over the gravel trap, and was fortunate to avoid just a slight brush of the barrier.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the very end of the practice, spinning around through the high-speed Mergulho corner approaching the final corner on to the pit straight.
The veteran finished practice in P19, trailing team-mate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren drivers were well clear of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's car P3, 0.619 seconds behind Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto ahead of the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.