Lando Norris Edges Out Oscar Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice Session

Lando Norris just pipped fellow driver and title rival Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the closing stages of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Norris, who seized the championship lead from Piastri by one point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, topped the Australian by a mere 0.023s.

Before then, Piastri had been the leading McLaren for most of the session before sprint qualifying due at 18:30 GMT.

Max Verstappen, the other racer in the points battle, sitting 36 points Norris, was classified in 17th position as his team followed a alternative strategy.

His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to go off, if briefly, when he lost control at the fourth corner soon after starting.

The Japanese lost control over the track edges before rotating through the gravel trap, and was lucky to avoid just a minor contact of the barrier.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the conclusion of the session, turning around through the quick descending Mergulho turn leading to the last turn on to the pit straight.

The veteran ended the session in 19th, just behind teammate the Monegasque driver.

Norris and Piastri were well clear of the other competitors, with the German's Sauber P3, 0.619secs behind Piastri's pace.

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Williams' Sainz.