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The McLaren driver just pipped team-mate and championship contender the Australian for the fastest time in the closing stages of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Norris, who took the title advantage from Piastri by a single point after his victory in Mexico City two weeks ago, topped the Melbourne-born driver by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.

Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver throughout the hour before sprint qualifying set to begin at 18:30 GMT.

The Red Bull star, the only other driver in the championship fight, lying with a 36-point deficit Norris, ended up in 17th position as his team opted for a alternative strategy.

Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, if briefly, when he rotated at the fourth corner during the early running.

The Japanese lost control over the exit kerbs before rotating through the run-off area, and was blessed to escape with just a minor contact of the barrier.

The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the conclusion of the practice, rotating twice through the fast downhill Mergulho turn before the last turn on to the start-finish straight.

The seven-time champion wrapped up in P19, trailing team-mate the Monegasque driver.

The McLaren pair were significantly quicker of the other competitors, with the German's car P3, 0.619secs behind Piastri's best.

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