Lando Norris has beaten Oscar Piastri at each of the last five race weekends.
The McLaren driver edged out fellow driver and championship contender the Australian for the top spot in the closing stages of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.
Norris, who took the championship lead from Piastri by a single point after his victory in Mexico City two weeks ago, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.
Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair for most of the session before the sprint shootout due at 6:30 PM GMT.
The Red Bull star, the other racer in the points battle, sitting 36 points Norris, finished in 17th place as his Red Bull team opted for a different programme.
Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, albeit lightly, when he rotated at corner four early in the session.
The Japanese spun out over the track edges before rotating through the escape zone, and was fortunate to avoid just a light touch of the fence.
Ferrari's the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the conclusion of the practice, rotating twice through the fast downhill corner before the final corner on to the main straight.
The veteran wrapped up in 19th, trailing team-mate Charles Leclerc.
Norris and Piastri were significantly quicker of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car third fastest, over half a second behind Piastri's pace.
Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.
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Dave Little
| 10 Sep 2026
Dave Little
| 09 Sep 2026
Dave Little
| 09 Sep 2026
Dave Little
| 09 Sep 2026