Lando Norris Leads Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice

The McLaren driver just pipped team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the final moments of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Norris, who seized the title advantage from Piastri by one point after taking the win in Mexico City two weeks ago, topped the Australian by a mere 0.023s.

Before then, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair for most of the session before sprint qualifying due at 18:30 GMT.

Max Verstappen, the other racer in the points battle, sitting 36 points behind Norris, was classified in 17th place as his Red Bull team ran a different programme.

Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to crash, though minor, when he spun at the fourth corner soon after starting.

Tsunoda slid over the curbs on exit before spinning across the gravel trap, and was lucky to escape with just a light touch of the barrier.

Ferrari's the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the very end of the session, turning around through the high-speed corner approaching the final bend on to the main straight.

The veteran wrapped up in 19th, trailing team-mate the Monegasque driver.

The McLaren drivers were far ahead of the other competitors, with the German's car in third, 0.619 seconds slower than Piastri's pace.

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto ahead of Mercedes' George Russell and Alpine's Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.