Lando Norris Tops Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice

Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the final moments of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Norris, who took the title advantage from Piastri by a single point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, outpaced the Australian by 0.023 seconds.

Until that point, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair during the running before the sprint shootout scheduled for the evening session.

The Red Bull star, the other racer in realistic title contention, lying with a 36-point deficit Norris, ended up in 17th place as his Red Bull team ran a alternative strategy.

Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to go off, albeit lightly, when he spun at Turn Four soon after starting.

The Japanese spun out over the curbs on exit before sliding over the escape zone, and was fortunate to avoid just a slight brush of the wall.

Ferrari's the seven-time champion also lost it, at the final moments of the practice, rotating twice through the quick descending corner before the final bend on to the main straight.

The seven-time champion ended the session in 19th place, trailing team-mate the Monegasque driver.

The McLaren drivers were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with the German's Sauber P3, 0.619 seconds behind the Australian's time.

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