Norris Edges Out Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session

The McLaren driver edged out team-mate and title rival Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the final moments of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Norris, who took the points lead from his teammate by a single point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, beat the Australian by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.

Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver for most of the session before sprint qualifying due at the evening session.

Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, sitting 36 points Norris, ended up in P17 as his team opted for a alternative strategy.

His teammate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to crash, if briefly, when he spun at Turn Four soon after starting.

The Japanese slid over the track edges before sliding over the run-off area, and was lucky to get away with just a minor contact of the barrier.

Ferrari's the seven-time champion also spun, at the final moments of the practice, rotating twice through the fast downhill Mergulho corner approaching the final corner on to the start-finish straight.

The seven-time champion ended the session in 19th, trailing team-mate the Monegasque driver.

Norris and Piastri were well clear of the remaining drivers, with the German's Sauber third fastest, 0.619secs behind Piastri's best.

The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto ahead of the Mercedes of George Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.