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

Norris, who took the title advantage from Piastri by just one point after taking the win in Mexico City a fortnight back, beat the Australian by 0.023 seconds.

Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren for most of the session before the sprint shootout scheduled for 6:30 PM GMT.

The Red Bull star, the only other driver in realistic title contention, lying 36 points Norris, finished in 17th place as his Red Bull team opted for a alternative strategy.

Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to crash, though minor, when he rotated at corner four early in the session.

The Japanese spun out over the exit kerbs before rotating through the gravel trap, and was fortunate to avoid just a slight brush of the fence.

The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also spun, at the very end of the practice, rotating twice through the high-speed corner before the last turn on to the pit straight.

The veteran wrapped up in 19th, just behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.

Norris and Piastri were significantly quicker of the other competitors, with the German's Sauber third fastest, 0.619secs behind the Australian's time.

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