Norris Leads Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
Lando Norris has beaten his teammate at each of the previous five race weekends.
Lando Norris edged out team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the final moments of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who grabbed the title advantage from Piastri by just one point after taking the win in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, outpaced the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Before then, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver throughout the hour before the sprint shootout set to begin at 18:30 GMT.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, trailing 36 points Norris, was classified in 17th position as his team ran a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to crash, albeit lightly, when he rotated at Turn Four soon after starting.
Tsunoda spun out over the track edges before sliding over the run-off area, and was lucky to get away with just a light touch of the fence.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also lost it, at the very end of the practice, turning around through the fast downhill corner approaching the final bend on to the main straight.
The veteran finished practice in 19th, just behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were well clear of the remaining drivers, with the German's Sauber P3, 0.619secs off Piastri's best.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
