Norris Leads Piastri in Brazilian Practice
The British driver has beaten Oscar Piastri at each of the past five race weekends.
The McLaren driver just pipped team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the championship lead from Piastri by a single point after winning in Mexico City two weeks ago, topped the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Before then, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before the sprint shootout set to begin at 18:30 GMT.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in the championship fight, sitting 36 points Norris, was classified in 17th position as his Red Bull team opted for a unique setup.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the only driver to crash, though minor, when he spun at corner four early in the session.
The Japanese spun out over the exit kerbs before spinning across the escape zone, and was lucky to get away with just a slight brush of the barrier.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the conclusion of the session, rotating twice through the fast downhill Mergulho corner leading to the final corner on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion ended the session in 19th, one place behind teammate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren pair were well clear of the other competitors, with the German's car P3, over half a second off Piastri's best.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was in fourth, with Sauber's Bortoleto in front of Mercedes' George Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
