Lando Norris Tops Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice
The British driver has outscored his teammate at each of the past five race weekends.
Lando Norris edged out team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the closing stages of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the championship lead from his teammate by a single point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, topped the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before the sprint shootout set to begin at 18:30 GMT.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, lying 36 points behind Norris, finished in 17th place as his team ran a unique setup.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, albeit lightly, when he rotated at Turn Four during the early running.
The Japanese lost control over the curbs on exit before spinning across the escape zone, and was blessed to get away with just a minor contact of the barrier.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also lost it, at the conclusion of the session, spinning around through the quick descending Mergulho corner leading to the last turn on to the pit straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in P19, one place behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were significantly quicker of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, 0.619 seconds slower than the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of George Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.