🔗 Share this article

The McLaren driver edged out team-mate and title rival the Australian for the quickest lap in the closing stages of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Norris, who grabbed the championship lead from Piastri by a single point after his victory in Mexico City two weeks ago, topped the Australian by 0.023 seconds.

Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver during the running before sprint qualifying scheduled for 6:30 PM GMT.

Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in realistic title contention, lying 36 points behind Norris, ended up in 17th position as his Red Bull team ran a alternative strategy.

Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to go off, albeit lightly, when he rotated at corner four early in the session.

Tsunoda lost control over the track edges before rotating through the escape zone, and was fortunate to avoid just a minor contact of the wall.

The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the conclusion of the practice, spinning around through the fast downhill corner leading to the final bend on to the pit straight.

Hamilton finished practice in 19th, just behind teammate the Monegasque driver.

The McLaren pair were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber third fastest, 0.619secs off the Australian's time.

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