Lando Norris Leads Piastri in Brazilian Practice
Lando Norris has outscored his teammate at each of the last five grands prix.
The McLaren driver edged out team-mate and championship contender the Australian for the top spot in the closing stages of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who grabbed the championship lead from Piastri by one point after winning in Mexico City a fortnight back, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Before then, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair for most of the session before sprint qualifying scheduled for the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in realistic title contention, lying 36 points behind behind Norris, finished in P17 as his Red Bull team ran a different programme.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, though minor, when he spun at the fourth corner early in the session.
The Japanese spun out over the track edges before sliding over the escape zone, and was fortunate to avoid just a light touch of the barrier.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also spun, at the final moments of the practice, spinning around through the fast downhill Mergulho corner leading to the last turn on to the pit straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in 19th, just behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were significantly quicker of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, 0.619 seconds behind Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of George Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
