Norris Leads Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
Lando Norris has outscored Oscar Piastri at each of the previous five grands prix.
The McLaren driver narrowly beat fellow driver and title rival Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the final moments of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who took the championship lead from Piastri by a single point after taking the win in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, beat the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Before then, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver for most of the session before the sprint shootout due at the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the only other driver in realistic title contention, lying 36 points behind Norris, ended up in 17th place as his team opted for a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to crash, though minor, when he lost control at Turn Four during the early running.
The Japanese slid over the exit kerbs before sliding over the gravel trap, and was lucky to escape with just a minor contact of the barrier.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the final moments of the session, spinning around through the high-speed Mergulho turn approaching the final corner on to the pit straight.
The veteran finished practice in 19th, one place behind teammate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren pair were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with the German's car in third, 0.619 seconds slower than Piastri's best.
The Aston Martin of 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.
