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The McLaren driver just pipped fellow driver and championship contender the Australian for the quickest lap in the closing stages of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Norris, who seized the championship lead from his teammate by one point after taking the win in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.

Until that point, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before sprint qualifying due at 6:30 PM GMT.

The Red Bull star, the only other driver in realistic title contention, lying 36 points Norris, finished in 17th place as his team opted for a different programme.

His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to have an incident, if briefly, when he spun at the fourth corner soon after starting.

Tsunoda lost control over the curbs on exit before spinning across the gravel trap, and was lucky to avoid just a minor contact of the barrier.

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 last turn on to the main straight.

The seven-time champion wrapped up in 19th place, one place behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.

The McLaren pair were far ahead of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's car in third, over half a second behind Piastri's best.

The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto ahead of the Mercedes of Russell and Alpine's Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.