Norris Leads Piastri in Brazilian Practice

Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the dying seconds of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

The British racer, who took the championship lead from his teammate by just one point after winning in Mexico City two weeks ago, beat the Australian by 0.023 seconds.

Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair during the running before sprint qualifying due at the evening session.

Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in realistic title contention, lying with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, was classified in 17th place as his team opted for a unique setup.

Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to crash, if briefly, when he lost control at Turn Four soon after starting.

Tsunoda spun out over the curbs on exit before spinning across the run-off area, and was blessed to get away with just a slight brush of the wall.

The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the very end of the session, rotating twice through the fast downhill corner approaching the final corner on to the pit straight.

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

Norris and Piastri were well clear of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's car in third, over half a second behind the Australian's time.

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