Lando Norris Edges Out Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
The British driver has outperformed Oscar Piastri at each of the last five grands prix.
The McLaren driver just pipped team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the final moments of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who took the championship lead from Piastri by just one point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, topped the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Before then, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair during the running before sprint qualifying due at the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, trailing 36 points Norris, was classified in 17th place as his team followed a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to have an incident, if briefly, when he lost control at Turn Four during the early running.
The Japanese lost control over the exit kerbs before spinning across the escape zone, and was blessed to escape with just a light touch of the barrier.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the very end of the session, rotating twice through the fast downhill Mergulho turn before the final bend on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion ended the session in 19th place, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren pair were significantly quicker of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's car P3, over half a second behind the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was in fourth, with the Sauber of Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' Russell and Alpine's Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
