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

Norris, who grabbed the title advantage from his teammate by just one point after winning in Mexico City two weeks ago, beat the Melbourne-born driver by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.

Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before sprint qualifying due at the evening session.

Max Verstappen, the only other driver in the points battle, trailing with a 36-point deficit Norris, ended up in 17th position as his team ran a unique setup.

Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to crash, albeit lightly, when he lost control at the fourth corner soon after starting.

Tsunoda slid over the exit kerbs before sliding over the gravel trap, and was blessed to avoid just a minor contact of the barrier.

The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also spun, at the conclusion of the session, spinning around through the high-speed corner approaching the final corner on to the start-finish straight.

Hamilton ended the session in 19th, one place behind teammate the Monegasque driver.

Norris and Piastri were far ahead of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's car in third, over half a second off Piastri's best.

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