🔗 Share this article

The McLaren driver narrowly beat fellow driver and championship contender the Australian for the top spot in the final moments of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Norris, who seized the title advantage from Piastri by a single point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, beat the Australian by a mere 0.023s.

Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before the sprint shootout scheduled for the evening session.

Max Verstappen, the other racer in realistic title contention, lying 36 points behind behind Norris, ended up in 17th place as his team opted for a different programme.

Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to have an incident, if briefly, when he lost control at corner four early in the session.

Tsunoda spun out over the curbs on exit before spinning across the escape zone, and was lucky to get away with just a light touch of the wall.

Ferrari's the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the final moments of the session, rotating twice through the quick descending Mergulho turn before the final corner on to the main straight.

Hamilton wrapped up in 19th place, one place behind teammate the Monegasque driver.

The McLaren drivers were well clear of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, over half a second off Piastri's best.

The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was in fourth, with the Sauber of Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.