Norris Edges Out Piastri in Brazilian Practice
The British driver has beaten Oscar Piastri at each of the previous five race weekends.
Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and championship contender the Australian for the quickest lap in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who seized the championship lead from Piastri by one point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren during the running before the sprint shootout due at 18:30 GMT.
The Red Bull star, the only other driver in the points battle, lying 36 points behind behind Norris, ended up in 17th position as his team ran a different programme.
His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to crash, though minor, when he lost control at the fourth corner early in the session.
The Japanese slid over the exit kerbs before rotating through the gravel trap, and was fortunate to get away with just a slight brush of the barrier.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the very end of the session, turning around through the quick descending corner approaching the final bend on to the pit straight.
The seven-time champion ended the session in 19th, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were well clear of the other competitors, with the German's car third fastest, over half a second off the Australian's time.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with Sauber's Bortoleto ahead of the Mercedes of Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
