Norris Leads Piastri in Brazilian Practice
The British driver has outperformed Oscar Piastri at all of the past five race weekends.
The McLaren driver narrowly beat fellow driver and championship contender the Australian for the top spot in the closing stages of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the championship lead from his teammate by one point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, topped the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before the sprint shootout scheduled for 6:30 PM GMT.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, sitting with a 36-point deficit Norris, ended up in 17th place as his team opted for a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, though minor, when he lost control at Turn Four early in the session.
The Japanese slid over the exit kerbs before rotating through the run-off area, and was fortunate to get away with just a light touch of the barrier.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also lost it, at the very end of the practice, spinning around through the fast downhill Mergulho corner approaching the final corner on to the main straight.
Hamilton finished practice in 19th place, one place behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were well clear of the other competitors, with the German's car in third, 0.619secs behind Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto in front of Mercedes' Russell and Alpine's Gasly and Williams' Sainz.
