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Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and title rival 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 a single point after taking the win in Mexico City a fortnight back, outpaced the Australian by a mere 0.023s.

Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver throughout the hour before sprint qualifying due at 6:30 PM GMT.

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

Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, if briefly, when he spun at Turn Four early in the session.

Tsunoda slid over the curbs on exit before rotating through the run-off area, and was lucky to get away with just a light touch of the fence.

The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the final moments of the practice, turning around through the high-speed corner approaching the final bend on to the main straight.

Hamilton ended the session in 19th, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc.

The McLaren drivers were well clear of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's car P3, 0.619secs off Piastri's best.

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