Norris Tops Piastri in Brazilian Practice
The British driver has outperformed his teammate at each of the previous five grands prix.
The McLaren driver just pipped fellow driver and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the closing stages of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the points lead from Piastri by one point after his victory in Mexico City two weeks ago, beat the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Before then, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before sprint qualifying set to begin at 18:30 GMT.
Max Verstappen, the other racer in the points battle, lying 36 points behind Norris, finished in 17th place as his Red Bull team followed a different programme.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, though minor, when he spun at corner four during the early running.
The Japanese slid over the curbs on exit before sliding over the escape zone, and was blessed to get away with just a light touch of the barrier.
The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also spun, at the conclusion of the practice, turning around through the quick descending Mergulho turn approaching the final corner on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in P19, just behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.
The McLaren drivers were far ahead of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's car third fastest, 0.619secs off Piastri's best.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with Sauber's Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
