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Lando Norris just pipped fellow driver and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Norris, who seized the title advantage from Piastri by just one point after taking the win in Mexico City a fortnight back, topped the Australian by a mere 0.023s.

Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before the sprint shootout set to begin at the evening session.

Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in realistic title contention, sitting 36 points behind Norris, finished in 17th place as his Red Bull team opted for a unique setup.

Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to go off, albeit lightly, when he rotated at corner four soon after starting.

The Japanese spun out over the exit kerbs before spinning across the run-off area, and was fortunate to avoid just a minor contact of the fence.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the final moments of the practice, spinning around through the quick descending Mergulho turn before the final bend on to the pit straight.

The seven-time champion finished practice in 19th, one place behind teammate the Monegasque driver.

Norris and Piastri were far ahead of the other competitors, with the German's car in third, 0.619 seconds behind Piastri's pace.

Aston Martin's the Spanish driver was fourth quickest, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto in front of Mercedes' George Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.