Lando Norris Edges Out Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outperformed his teammate at all of the past five race weekends.
Lando Norris just pipped fellow driver and championship contender the Australian for the fastest time in the final moments of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who took the points lead from his teammate by a single point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, beat the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the leading McLaren during the running before sprint qualifying due at 18:30 GMT.
The Red Bull star, the other racer in the points battle, lying with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, finished in P17 as his Red Bull team opted for a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, albeit lightly, when he spun at corner four early in the session.
The Japanese lost control over the exit kerbs before sliding over the gravel trap, and was blessed to avoid just a light touch of the wall.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the very end of the session, spinning around through the high-speed Mergulho turn before the final corner on to the start-finish straight.
The seven-time champion finished practice in P19, trailing team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were well clear of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, 0.619secs off Piastri's best.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.