Norris Tops Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice

The McLaren driver edged out team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Norris, who grabbed the championship lead from his teammate by just one point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, beat the Australian by a mere 0.023s.

Until that point, Piastri had been the leading McLaren for most of the session before sprint qualifying set to begin at the evening session.

Max Verstappen, the only other driver in the championship fight, lying 36 points Norris, was classified in P17 as his team ran a different programme.

His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to crash, albeit lightly, when he lost control at the fourth corner early in the session.

The Japanese spun out over the curbs on exit before sliding over the run-off area, and was fortunate to get away with just a minor contact of the wall.

The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the very end of the practice, turning around through the fast downhill Mergulho turn before the final corner on to the main straight.

Hamilton wrapped up in 19th, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc.

The McLaren drivers were well clear of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car P3, over half a second behind Piastri's best.

The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.