Lando Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
The British driver has beaten Oscar Piastri at each of the previous five grands prix.
Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and title rival the Australian for the fastest time in the dying seconds of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who took the points lead from Piastri by a single point after taking the win in Mexico City two weeks ago, topped the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Before then, Piastri had been the leading McLaren during the running before sprint qualifying scheduled for the evening session.
Max Verstappen, the only other driver in the points battle, sitting 36 points Norris, finished in 17th position as his team ran a unique setup.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, though minor, when he lost control at Turn Four during the early running.
The Japanese spun out over the track edges before sliding over the gravel trap, and was lucky to escape with just a slight brush of the fence.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also lost it, at the conclusion of the practice, turning around through the fast downhill corner leading to the last turn on to the start-finish straight.
The veteran finished practice in 19th, one place behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren drivers were well clear of the remaining drivers, with the German's car third fastest, 0.619secs off Piastri's best.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was in fourth, with Sauber's Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' George Russell and Alpine's Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
