Norris Edges Out Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session

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

Norris, who grabbed the championship lead from Piastri by one point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, outpaced the Australian by a mere 0.023s.

Before then, Piastri had been the leading McLaren during the running before the sprint shootout scheduled for 18:30 GMT.

Max Verstappen, the only other driver in the points battle, lying 36 points behind behind Norris, was classified in 17th place as his team ran a different programme.

His teammate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, if briefly, when he lost control at Turn Four soon after starting.

The Japanese spun out over the exit kerbs before sliding over the escape zone, and was lucky to get away with just a slight brush of the wall.

The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the very end of the practice, rotating twice through the high-speed corner leading to the final bend on to the main straight.

The seven-time champion finished practice in 19th, one place behind teammate the Monegasque driver.

The McLaren drivers were significantly quicker of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's car in third, over half a second slower than Piastri's pace.

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of George Russell and Alpine's Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.