Lando Norris Leads Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session
The British driver has outscored his teammate at each of the previous five race weekends.
Lando Norris narrowly beat fellow driver and championship contender the Australian for the top spot in the final moments of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
The British racer, who seized the title advantage from Piastri by one point after winning in Mexico City a fortnight back, outpaced the Australian by 0.023 seconds.
Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren during the running before sprint qualifying due at the evening session.
The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, sitting with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, was classified in P17 as his Red Bull team followed a alternative strategy.
Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to crash, though minor, when he rotated at Turn Four early in the session.
The Japanese slid over the exit kerbs before sliding over the escape zone, and was lucky to avoid just a minor contact of the wall.
The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the very end of the practice, spinning around through the fast downhill Mergulho corner approaching the final bend on to the main straight.
The seven-time champion wrapped up in P19, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren pair were well clear of the other competitors, with the German's car P3, 0.619secs off the Australian's time.
The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.