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

The British racer, who seized the points lead from his teammate by a single point after taking the win in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, outpaced the Australian 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.

Max Verstappen, the other racer in the championship fight, sitting with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, ended up in P17 as his Red Bull team ran a alternative strategy.

His teammate the Japanese driver was the only driver to crash, though minor, when he spun at corner four soon after starting.

The Japanese spun out over the curbs on exit before sliding over the run-off area, and was lucky to get away with just a light touch of the barrier.

The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the conclusion of the practice, turning around through the high-speed Mergulho turn before the final corner on to the main straight.

The seven-time champion finished practice in P19, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc.

The McLaren drivers were significantly quicker of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's car P3, 0.619secs slower than Piastri's best.

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