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

Norris, who grabbed the championship lead from Piastri by a single point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, topped the Australian by 0.023 seconds.

Until that point, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver during the running before sprint qualifying due at 18:30 GMT.

The Red Bull star, the only other driver in realistic title contention, sitting with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, finished in 17th place as his team followed a unique setup.

His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to crash, if briefly, when he rotated at Turn Four early in the session.

The Japanese spun out over the exit kerbs before rotating through the escape zone, and was fortunate to get away with just a slight brush of the fence.

The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the final moments of the practice, rotating twice through the fast downhill Mergulho turn approaching the final corner on to the main straight.

Hamilton finished practice in 19th place, one place behind teammate Charles Leclerc.

The McLaren drivers were far ahead of the other competitors, with the German's car third fastest, 0.619secs off Piastri's pace.

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