Norris Leads Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
Lando Norris has beaten Oscar Piastri at all of the previous five race weekends.
The McLaren driver edged out team-mate and championship contender the Australian for the top spot in the closing stages of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who took the championship lead from his teammate by one point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, 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 set to begin at 18:30 GMT.
Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, lying 36 points behind behind Norris, ended up in 17th place as his Red Bull team opted for a unique setup.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to crash, if briefly, when he lost control at the fourth corner soon after starting.
The Japanese spun out over the curbs on exit before sliding over the run-off area, and was blessed to escape with just a light touch of the fence.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the conclusion of the practice, turning around through the fast downhill corner approaching the last turn on to the start-finish straight.
Hamilton finished practice in 19th, trailing team-mate the Monegasque driver.
Norris and Piastri were well clear of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber third fastest, 0.619 seconds off Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
