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Lando Norris edged out team-mate and championship contender the Australian for the top spot in the final moments of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

The British racer, who took the championship lead from Piastri by one point after taking the win in Mexico City two weeks ago, topped the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.

Before then, Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before sprint qualifying set to begin at the evening session.

The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, lying 36 points behind Norris, ended up in 17th position as his Red Bull team followed a alternative strategy.

Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to have an incident, though minor, when he spun at the fourth corner soon after starting.

Tsunoda lost control over the exit kerbs before spinning across the escape zone, and was lucky to avoid just a slight brush of the wall.

Ferrari's the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the final moments of the practice, rotating twice through the fast downhill Mergulho turn approaching the final bend on to the pit straight.

The veteran ended the session in 19th, just behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.

The McLaren pair were significantly quicker of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, over half a second behind the Australian's time.

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