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Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and championship contender the Australian for the quickest lap in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Norris, who took the points lead from his teammate by just one point after his victory in Mexico City a fortnight back, topped the Australian by a mere 0.023s.

Before then, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair for most of the session before sprint qualifying due at 18:30 GMT.

The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, lying with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, ended up in 17th place as his team followed a alternative strategy.

Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to have an incident, though minor, when he spun at Turn Four during the early running.

The Japanese lost control over the exit kerbs before sliding over the run-off area, and was fortunate to escape with just a slight brush of the wall.

The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the final moments of the practice, turning around through the quick descending corner leading to the final corner on to the pit straight.

Hamilton ended the session in 19th place, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc.

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

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