Lando Norris Leads Piastri in Brazilian Practice
The British driver has outscored his teammate at each of the previous five race weekends.
Lando Norris edged out team-mate and title rival the Australian for the fastest time in the closing stages of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who grabbed the points lead from his teammate by one point after his victory in Mexico City recently, topped the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Before then, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver during the running before the sprint shootout due at the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, trailing 36 points behind Norris, finished in P17 as his team followed a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to go off, if briefly, when he rotated at Turn Four soon after starting.
Tsunoda spun out over the curbs on exit before sliding over the gravel trap, and was blessed to avoid just a light touch of the barrier.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the conclusion of the practice, turning around through the high-speed Mergulho turn before the last turn on to the main straight.
Hamilton wrapped up in 19th place, one place behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were significantly quicker of the other competitors, with the German's car P3, over half a second behind Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with Sauber's Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of George Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
