🔗 Share this article

Lando Norris edged out team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the closing stages of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Norris, who grabbed the title advantage from his teammate by just one point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, beat the Australian by 0.023 seconds.

Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren during the running before sprint qualifying scheduled for the evening session.

Max Verstappen, the other racer in the championship fight, lying 36 points Norris, ended up in P17 as his team followed a alternative strategy.

His teammate the Japanese driver was the only driver to have an incident, if briefly, when he lost control at corner four soon after starting.

The Japanese slid over the exit kerbs before spinning across the gravel trap, and was blessed to get away with just a slight brush of the barrier.

The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the very end of the session, spinning around through the fast downhill corner approaching the final corner on to the main straight.

The seven-time champion wrapped up in 19th place, one place behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.

Norris and Piastri were well clear of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car in third, 0.619 seconds slower than Piastri's best.

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