Lando Norris Leads Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has outscored Oscar Piastri at each of the past five race weekends.
The McLaren driver edged out team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the closing stages of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the points lead from Piastri by just one point after his victory in Mexico City recently, beat the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver throughout the hour before sprint qualifying scheduled for 18:30 GMT.
The Red Bull star, the other racer in the championship fight, trailing 36 points behind Norris, finished in 17th place as his team ran a different programme.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to crash, though minor, when he rotated at the fourth corner early in the session.
The Japanese spun out over the exit kerbs before spinning across the gravel trap, and was fortunate to get away with just a slight brush of the wall.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the final moments of the session, turning around through the high-speed Mergulho corner leading to the final bend on to the main straight.
The veteran wrapped up in 19th place, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren pair were well clear of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber P3, 0.619secs off the Australian's time.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto ahead of Mercedes' George Russell and Alpine's Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
