Lando Norris Leads Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice

Lando Norris narrowly beat team-mate and title rival the Australian for the quickest lap in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

The British racer, who took the championship lead from his teammate by just one point after his victory in Mexico City recently, topped the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.

Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair during the running before sprint qualifying due at 18:30 GMT.

The Red Bull star, the only other driver in realistic title contention, trailing with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, finished in P17 as his team ran a unique setup.

His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, though minor, when he spun at Turn Four early in the session.

Tsunoda lost control over the curbs on exit before rotating through the gravel trap, and was fortunate to escape with just a minor contact of the barrier.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the very end of the session, turning around through the fast downhill corner leading to the final corner on to the main straight.

The veteran wrapped up in 19th place, just behind teammate the Monegasque driver.

Norris and Piastri were well clear of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's car in third, 0.619 seconds behind the Australian's time.

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