Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice
Lando Norris has beaten Oscar Piastri at each of the last five grands prix.
The McLaren driver edged out fellow driver and title rival Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the final moments of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the points lead from Piastri by a single point after winning in Mexico City two weeks ago, beat the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before the sprint shootout scheduled for the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the other racer in the championship fight, trailing 36 points behind behind Norris, ended up in 17th position as his Red Bull team ran a different programme.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to have an incident, if briefly, when he lost control at Turn Four during the early running.
The Japanese lost control over the exit kerbs before rotating through the run-off area, and was fortunate 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, spinning around through the fast downhill corner before the final bend on to the start-finish straight.
Hamilton wrapped up in 19th place, trailing teammate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren pair were far ahead of the other competitors, with the German's Sauber third fastest, 0.619 seconds slower than the Australian's time.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of George Russell and Alpine's Gasly and Williams' Sainz.