Norris Tops Piastri in Brazilian Practice
The British driver has beaten Oscar Piastri at each of the previous five grands prix.
The McLaren driver edged out fellow driver and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the final moments of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the championship lead from Piastri by one point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, beat the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver for most of the session before the sprint shootout due at 6:30 PM GMT.
The Red Bull star, the other racer in realistic title contention, lying 36 points behind Norris, was classified in 17th place as his Red Bull team followed a unique setup.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to have an incident, though minor, when he lost control at the fourth corner early in the session.
The Japanese spun out over the exit kerbs before sliding over the run-off area, and was blessed to get away with just a light touch of the wall.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the final moments of the practice, rotating twice through the fast downhill Mergulho corner approaching the last turn on to the pit straight.
The seven-time champion ended the session in 19th place, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were significantly quicker of the other competitors, with the German's Sauber third fastest, over half a second off the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of George Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
