Norris Leads Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice

The McLaren driver just pipped team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the dying seconds of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

The British racer, who seized the championship lead from his teammate by one point after his victory in Mexico City a fortnight back, outpaced the Australian by 0.023 seconds.

Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before the sprint shootout set to begin at 18:30 GMT.

Max Verstappen, the only other driver in the championship fight, trailing 36 points Norris, was classified in 17th position as his Red Bull team opted for a different programme.

Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to crash, if briefly, when he rotated at the fourth corner early in the session.

Tsunoda lost control over the exit kerbs before spinning across the escape zone, and was blessed to escape with just a minor contact of the fence.

The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also lost it, at the final moments of the session, turning around through the fast downhill Mergulho corner leading to the final corner on to the main straight.

The veteran finished practice in 19th, one place behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.

The McLaren pair were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, 0.619secs behind Piastri's best.

The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was in fourth, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto ahead of the Mercedes of George Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.