Lando Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
The British driver has outscored Oscar Piastri at each of the previous five grands prix.
The McLaren driver narrowly beat team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the dying seconds of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
Norris, who took the title advantage from his teammate by a single point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, topped the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.
Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren during the running before sprint qualifying scheduled for the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the only other driver in realistic title contention, lying 36 points behind behind Norris, was classified in 17th position as his Red Bull team ran a different programme.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to crash, albeit lightly, when he spun at Turn Four soon after starting.
Tsunoda spun out over the curbs on exit before sliding over the run-off area, and was blessed to avoid just a minor contact of the fence.
Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the conclusion of the session, turning around through the quick descending Mergulho turn leading to the final corner on to the pit straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in P19, trailing team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren pair were well clear of the other competitors, with the German's Sauber in third, over half a second behind Piastri's pace.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.
