Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session

Lando Norris edged out fellow driver and title rival Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the closing stages of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

The British racer, who seized the championship lead from Piastri by a single point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, topped the Australian by a mere 0.023s.

Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver during the running before sprint qualifying scheduled for 18:30 GMT.

The Red Bull star, the only other driver in realistic title contention, lying 36 points behind behind Norris, finished in P17 as his team followed a alternative strategy.

His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to go off, if briefly, when he spun at the fourth corner soon after starting.

Tsunoda slid over the curbs on exit before rotating through the gravel trap, and was lucky to avoid just a light touch of the wall.

The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the very end of the session, spinning around through the quick descending Mergulho corner approaching the last turn on to the main straight.

Hamilton finished practice in 19th, just behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.

The McLaren drivers were far ahead of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, 0.619 seconds off Piastri's pace.

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