Norris Leads Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session
The British driver has outperformed Oscar Piastri at all of the past five race weekends.
The McLaren driver edged out fellow driver and title rival Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the closing stages of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who took the championship lead from his teammate by a single point after taking the win in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Before then, Piastri had been the leading McLaren during the running before sprint qualifying due at 18:30 GMT.
The Red Bull star, the other racer in the points battle, trailing 36 points behind Norris, ended up in 17th position as his team opted for a alternative strategy.
His teammate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, if briefly, when he lost control at corner four soon after starting.
The Japanese lost control over the track edges before sliding over the gravel trap, and was lucky to escape with just a slight brush of the barrier.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also lost it, at the very end of the practice, rotating twice through the fast downhill corner before the final corner on to the pit straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in 19th, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, 0.619 seconds slower than the Australian's time.
The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Bortoleto ahead of the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.
