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The McLaren driver edged out fellow driver and title rival Oscar Piastri for the quickest lap in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Norris, who took the championship lead from Piastri by one point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, beat the Australian by a mere 0.023s.

Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren during the running before sprint qualifying set to begin at the evening session.

Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, lying with a 36-point deficit Norris, ended up in 17th place as his team ran a unique setup.

His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to crash, though minor, when he spun at corner four early in the session.

The Japanese lost control over the exit kerbs before rotating through the escape zone, and was fortunate to avoid just a light touch of the fence.

The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the very end of the practice, turning around through the fast downhill Mergulho turn approaching the final bend on to the main straight.

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

The McLaren drivers were well clear of the remaining drivers, with the German's car P3, over half a second off the Australian's time.

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