Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
Lando Norris has outscored Oscar Piastri at all of the previous five race weekends.
The McLaren driver narrowly beat team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who took the points lead from Piastri by just one point after his victory in Mexico City a fortnight back, topped the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren during the running before sprint qualifying set to begin at 18:30 GMT.
The Red Bull star, the other racer in the championship fight, trailing with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, was classified in 17th position as his Red Bull team opted for a different programme.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to crash, though minor, when he rotated at corner four soon after starting.
The Japanese lost control over the exit kerbs before sliding over the gravel trap, and was fortunate to get away with just a minor contact of the barrier.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the final moments of the session, turning around through the high-speed Mergulho turn leading to the last turn on to the main straight.
Hamilton finished practice in 19th, just behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren pair were far ahead of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber third fastest, over half a second slower than Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was in fourth, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto ahead of the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.