Lando Norris Tops Piastri in Brazilian Practice
The British driver has beaten Oscar Piastri at each of the last five grands prix.
Lando Norris narrowly beat fellow driver and title rival the Australian for the top spot in the final moments of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the points lead from his teammate by one point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, outpaced the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver during the running before sprint qualifying scheduled for 18:30 GMT.
The Red Bull star, the only other driver in the points battle, trailing 36 points behind Norris, was classified in P17 as his team followed a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to go off, though minor, when he lost control at the fourth corner early in the session.
Tsunoda lost control over the curbs on exit before rotating through the escape zone, and was blessed to escape with just a light touch of the fence.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the conclusion of the practice, rotating twice through the quick descending Mergulho turn before the final corner on to the pit straight.
Hamilton wrapped up in 19th, trailing teammate the Monegasque driver.
Norris and Piastri were well clear of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber third fastest, 0.619secs off Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was in fourth, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' George Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
