Norris Edges Out Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session

Lando Norris edged out team-mate and title rival the Australian for the top spot in the closing stages of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Norris, who took the points lead from his teammate by one point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.

Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren for most of the session before the sprint shootout due at 6:30 PM GMT.

Max Verstappen, the only other driver in realistic title contention, trailing with a 36-point deficit Norris, finished in 17th place as his Red Bull team ran a unique setup.

Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to crash, though minor, when he spun at corner four soon after starting.

The Japanese spun out over the track edges before sliding over the run-off area, and was fortunate to get away with just a light touch of the wall.

The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the final moments of the practice, rotating twice through the fast downhill corner before the last turn on to the main straight.

Hamilton finished practice in 19th place, one place behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.

The McLaren drivers were far ahead of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's car in third, 0.619 seconds behind Piastri's pace.

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