Norris Tops Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
The British driver has outperformed his teammate at all of the previous five grands prix.
Lando Norris narrowly beat fellow driver and title rival Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the final moments of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The British racer, who took the points lead from Piastri by just one point after winning in Mexico City two weeks ago, topped the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren during the running before the sprint shootout due at the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the only other driver in the points battle, lying 36 points behind Norris, was classified in 17th place as his Red Bull team followed a different programme.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to go off, if briefly, when he spun at corner four early in the session.
Tsunoda slid over the curbs on exit before sliding over the run-off area, and was lucky to get away with just a slight brush of the barrier.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the final moments of the practice, turning around through the fast downhill corner approaching the last turn on to the start-finish straight.
Hamilton ended the session in 19th, one place behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, 0.619 seconds behind Piastri's best.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto ahead of the Mercedes of Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
