Norris Edges Out Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outperformed Oscar Piastri at all of the previous five grands prix.
The McLaren driver edged out fellow driver and championship contender the Australian for the fastest time in the closing stages of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The British racer, who took the title advantage from Piastri by a single point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, topped the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren during the running before the sprint shootout scheduled for the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the other racer in realistic title contention, sitting with a 36-point deficit Norris, ended up in P17 as his team ran a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to crash, albeit lightly, when he spun at corner four soon after starting.
The Japanese spun out over the exit kerbs before sliding over the escape zone, and was fortunate to escape with just a light touch of the wall.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also spun, at the very end of the session, turning around through the fast downhill corner leading to the last turn on to the start-finish straight.
The veteran wrapped up in P19, one place behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were significantly quicker of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber third fastest, 0.619secs off Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was in fourth, with the Sauber of Bortoleto in front of Mercedes' Russell and Alpine's Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
