Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
Lando Norris has beaten his teammate at each of the past five grands prix.
The McLaren driver edged out team-mate and title rival the Australian for the fastest time in the closing stages of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who grabbed the championship lead from Piastri by just one point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, beat the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the leading McLaren during the running before sprint qualifying scheduled for the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the other racer in the championship fight, sitting 36 points behind Norris, was classified in 17th position as his Red Bull team opted for a different programme.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to crash, albeit lightly, when he rotated at Turn Four soon after starting.
The Japanese spun out over the curbs on exit before sliding over the run-off area, and was blessed to get away with just a minor contact of the fence.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also spun, at the very end of the session, spinning around through the quick descending Mergulho corner before the final bend on to the start-finish straight.
The veteran wrapped up in 19th, one place behind teammate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren pair were far ahead of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber third fastest, 0.619secs slower than Piastri's best.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of George Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
