Norris Edges Out Piastri in Brazilian Practice

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

Norris, who seized the title advantage from Piastri by a single point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, topped the Australian by a mere 0.023s.

Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver throughout the hour before sprint qualifying scheduled for 18:30 GMT.

The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, trailing 36 points behind behind Norris, finished in P17 as his team ran a alternative strategy.

Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to have an incident, albeit lightly, when he spun at the fourth corner during the early running.

The Japanese slid over the track edges before rotating through the gravel trap, and was blessed to escape with just a light touch of the fence.

Ferrari's the seven-time champion also lost it, at the conclusion of the practice, rotating twice through the quick descending Mergulho corner leading to the last turn on to the pit straight.

The veteran wrapped up in 19th place, just behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.

The McLaren pair were well clear of the rest of the field, with the German's car P3, 0.619 seconds behind Piastri's best.

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