Lando Norris Leads Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session

Lando Norris edged out team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the final moments of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

The British racer, who took the title advantage from his teammate by just one point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, beat the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.

Until that point, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before the sprint shootout scheduled for 18:30 GMT.

The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in realistic title contention, trailing with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, finished in 17th place as his Red Bull team ran a alternative strategy.

His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to crash, albeit lightly, when he spun at corner four during the early running.

Tsunoda spun out over the exit kerbs before sliding over the gravel trap, and was blessed to escape with just a minor contact of the wall.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the final moments of the practice, spinning around through the high-speed corner leading to the final bend on to the main straight.

Hamilton wrapped up in P19, one place behind teammate the Monegasque driver.

Norris and Piastri were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber third fastest, 0.619 seconds off the Australian's time.

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