Lando Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session

Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and title rival the Australian for the top spot in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Norris, who grabbed the title advantage from his teammate by one point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, topped the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.

Before then, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair for most of the session before sprint qualifying set to begin at the evening session.

Max Verstappen, the only other driver in the points battle, trailing 36 points behind Norris, ended up in 17th position as his team followed a unique setup.

His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to go off, if briefly, when he spun at Turn Four early in the session.

Tsunoda lost control over the curbs on exit before sliding over the gravel trap, and was blessed to get away with just a slight brush of the barrier.

The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the very end of the practice, spinning around through the quick descending corner leading to the last turn on to the main straight.

The veteran ended the session in 19th, just behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.

Norris and Piastri were well clear of the rest of the field, with the German's Sauber P3, over half a second behind Piastri's best.

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