Norris Edges Out Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session

Lando Norris narrowly beat team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the final moments of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Norris, who took the championship lead from his teammate by just one point after winning in Mexico City a fortnight back, outpaced the Australian by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.

Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before sprint qualifying set to begin at the evening session.

Max Verstappen, the only other driver in the points battle, sitting with a 36-point deficit Norris, ended up in 17th position as his team opted for a unique setup.

His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to crash, though minor, when he spun at corner four during the early running.

The Japanese slid over the exit kerbs before rotating through the gravel trap, and was fortunate to avoid just a minor contact of the fence.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the final moments of the practice, turning around through the quick descending corner approaching the final bend on to the start-finish straight.

Hamilton finished practice in 19th, one place behind teammate the Monegasque driver.

The McLaren drivers were significantly quicker of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's car third fastest, 0.619 seconds slower than the Australian's time.

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto in front of the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and the Williams of Carlos Sainz.