Norris Tops Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice
The British driver has outscored Oscar Piastri at all of the last five grands prix.
The McLaren driver edged out team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the final moments of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the points lead from his teammate by a single point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, outpaced the Australian by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.
Before then, Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before the sprint shootout due at 18:30 GMT.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, sitting 36 points behind behind Norris, was classified in 17th place as his team ran a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, though minor, when he lost control at the fourth corner early in the session.
The Japanese lost control over the exit kerbs before sliding over the run-off area, and was blessed to get away with just a light touch of the fence.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the conclusion of the session, spinning around through the quick descending Mergulho corner before the final corner on to the start-finish straight.
Hamilton wrapped up in 19th place, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren pair were well clear of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber third fastest, 0.619 seconds off the Australian's time.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of George Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
