Norris Tops Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
Lando Norris has outscored his teammate at all of the past five race weekends.
Lando Norris narrowly beat team-mate and championship contender the Australian for the top spot in the final moments of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who took the title advantage from his teammate by just one point after winning in Mexico City recently, beat the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair for most of the session before sprint qualifying scheduled for 6:30 PM GMT.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, lying with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, finished in P17 as his Red Bull team opted for a unique setup.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to go off, albeit lightly, when he lost control at Turn Four during the early running.
Tsunoda spun out over the track edges before rotating through the run-off area, and was blessed to avoid just a slight brush of the fence.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also lost it, at the conclusion of the session, spinning around through the high-speed corner approaching the last turn on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion finished practice in 19th, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were well clear of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's car third fastest, over half a second off Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of George Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
