Lando Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Brazilian Practice Session

Lando Norris edged out fellow driver and title rival Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the closing stages of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Norris, who grabbed the points lead from his teammate by one point after taking the win in Mexico City recently, outpaced the Australian by a mere 0.023s.

Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver throughout the hour before the sprint shootout set to begin at the evening session.

Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, trailing 36 points Norris, was classified in 17th position as his team opted for a alternative strategy.

His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to crash, albeit lightly, when he spun at corner four soon after starting.

Tsunoda spun out over the track edges before sliding over the escape zone, and was fortunate to get away with just a minor contact of the barrier.

The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the very end of the session, turning around through the fast downhill Mergulho turn approaching the last turn on to the main straight.

The seven-time champion wrapped up in 19th, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc.

The McLaren pair were significantly quicker of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, 0.619 seconds off the Australian's time.

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