Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice
The British driver has beaten his teammate at each of the last five grands prix.
The McLaren driver just pipped 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 title advantage from his teammate by a single point after taking the win in Mexico City a fortnight back, beat the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Before then, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair during the running before sprint qualifying set to begin at 6:30 PM GMT.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in realistic title contention, sitting 36 points Norris, ended up in 17th place as his Red Bull team ran a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to crash, though minor, when he rotated at the fourth corner during the early running.
The Japanese lost control over the curbs on exit before spinning across the gravel trap, and was lucky to get away with just a light touch of the fence.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the final moments of the practice, rotating twice through the fast downhill corner leading to the final corner on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in 19th, one place behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were far ahead of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber third fastest, 0.619secs off Piastri's best.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto ahead of the Mercedes of George Russell and Alpine's Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
