Norris Leads Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice

The McLaren driver edged out team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Norris, who seized the points lead from his teammate by one point after taking the win in Mexico City a fortnight back, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.

Before then, Piastri had been the leading McLaren during the running before sprint qualifying set to begin at the evening session.

The Red Bull star, the other racer in realistic title contention, lying with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, finished in 17th place as his team ran a alternative strategy.

Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to crash, though minor, when he lost control at Turn Four during the early running.

The Japanese lost control over the track edges before sliding over the gravel trap, and was fortunate to avoid just a light touch of the wall.

Ferrari's the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the final moments of the practice, spinning around through the quick descending Mergulho turn approaching the final bend on to the start-finish straight.

Hamilton wrapped up in 19th place, just behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.

The McLaren pair were far ahead of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, 0.619 seconds off Piastri's pace.

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