Lando Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
Lando Norris has beaten his teammate at each of the previous five race weekends.
Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the points lead from Piastri by just one point after winning in Mexico City two weeks ago, beat the Australian by a mere 0.023s.
Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the leading McLaren for most of the session before the sprint shootout set to begin at 18:30 GMT.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in realistic title contention, trailing 36 points behind behind Norris, finished in 17th position as his team followed a unique setup.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to have an incident, though minor, when he spun at Turn Four soon after starting.
Tsunoda spun out over the exit kerbs before rotating through the gravel trap, and was lucky to avoid just a slight brush of the wall.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the very end of the practice, turning around through the high-speed corner leading to the last turn on to the pit straight.
Hamilton wrapped up in P19, just behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.
Norris and Piastri were far ahead of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber third fastest, 0.619 seconds off Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with Sauber's Bortoleto ahead of the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.