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Lando Norris edged out team-mate and championship contender the Australian for the quickest lap in the closing stages of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

The British racer, who seized the title advantage from Piastri by one point after taking the win in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.

Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before sprint qualifying set to begin at 6:30 PM GMT.

Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, sitting 36 points behind behind Norris, was classified in P17 as his team ran a alternative strategy.

Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to crash, albeit lightly, when he rotated at Turn Four soon after starting.

The Japanese lost control over the curbs on exit before sliding over the run-off area, and was fortunate to escape with just a minor contact of the barrier.

Ferrari's the seven-time champion also lost it, at the conclusion of the session, spinning around through the high-speed Mergulho corner approaching the final bend on to the start-finish straight.

The veteran ended the session in 19th place, trailing teammate the Monegasque driver.

The McLaren pair were well clear of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car third fastest, 0.619 seconds off Piastri's best.

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