Norris Leads Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice

Lando Norris edged out team-mate and championship contender the Australian for the top spot in the closing stages of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Norris, who took the points lead from Piastri by one point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, outpaced the Australian by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.

Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren during the running before sprint qualifying set to begin at the evening session.

Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in realistic title contention, trailing 36 points behind Norris, finished in P17 as his team opted for a alternative strategy.

His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, though minor, when he lost control at corner four during the early running.

The Japanese lost control over the exit kerbs before sliding over the run-off area, and was lucky to avoid just a minor contact of the fence.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the final moments of the session, rotating twice through the quick descending corner before the last turn on to the start-finish straight.

The seven-time champion finished practice in 19th place, one place behind teammate Charles Leclerc.

The McLaren pair were far ahead of the rest of the field, with the German's car P3, 0.619secs off Piastri's best.

Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of Russell and Alpine's Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.