Lando Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice

The McLaren driver just pipped team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the closing stages of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

The British racer, who grabbed the title advantage from Piastri by a single point after winning in Mexico City two weeks ago, outpaced the Australian by 0.023 seconds.

Until that point, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before the sprint shootout due at the evening session.

The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, trailing 36 points behind behind Norris, was classified in 17th place as his Red Bull team ran a different programme.

Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, if briefly, when he lost control at Turn Four early in the session.

The Japanese slid over the exit kerbs before sliding over the escape zone, and was blessed to escape with just a light touch of the barrier.

The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the final moments of the practice, rotating twice through the fast downhill corner before the final bend on to the main straight.

The seven-time champion wrapped up in 19th, trailing team-mate Charles Leclerc.

Norris and Piastri were far ahead of the other competitors, with the German's car third fastest, over half a second slower than the Australian's time.

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