Norris Tops Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
The British driver has outperformed Oscar Piastri at each of the last five grands prix.
The McLaren driver edged out team-mate and championship contender the Australian for the fastest time in the dying seconds of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the title advantage from Piastri by one point after winning in Mexico City two weeks ago, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before sprint qualifying due at 6:30 PM GMT.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in realistic title contention, sitting 36 points Norris, ended up in 17th place as his Red Bull team followed a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, albeit lightly, when he spun at the fourth corner soon after starting.
The Japanese slid over the track edges before sliding over the run-off area, and was blessed to get away with just a minor contact of the wall.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the conclusion of the practice, turning around through the high-speed Mergulho turn leading to the last turn on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in P19, trailing teammate the Monegasque driver.
Norris and Piastri were well clear of the rest of the field, with the German's car P3, 0.619secs behind Piastri's pace.
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 Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
