Lando Norris Tops Piastri in Brazilian Practice
The British driver has outscored his teammate at each of the last five grands prix.
Lando Norris edged out team-mate and title rival the Australian for the quickest lap in the closing stages of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who grabbed the championship lead from his teammate by just one point after winning in Mexico City two weeks ago, topped the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before sprint qualifying scheduled for 18:30 GMT.
Max Verstappen, the only other driver in the points battle, sitting with a 36-point deficit Norris, was classified in P17 as his team opted for a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to have an incident, if briefly, when he spun at corner four during the early running.
The Japanese spun out over the curbs on exit before rotating through the run-off area, and was blessed to escape with just a slight brush of the barrier.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the final moments of the session, turning around through the quick descending Mergulho turn leading to the final bend on to the pit straight.
The seven-time champion finished practice in 19th, just behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.
Norris and Piastri were well clear of the other competitors, with the German's car third fastest, over half a second behind Piastri's best.
Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto ahead of Mercedes' George Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Williams' Sainz.