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The McLaren driver just pipped team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the closing stages of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

The British racer, who took the title advantage from Piastri by just one point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix recently, topped the Australian by 0.023 seconds.

Before then, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair for most of the session before sprint qualifying scheduled for the evening session.

Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, sitting 36 points behind Norris, finished in 17th position as his Red Bull team followed a unique setup.

His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to crash, albeit lightly, when he lost control at corner four early in the session.

Tsunoda spun out over the track edges before sliding over the escape zone, and was fortunate to avoid just a slight brush of the wall.

The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the very end of the practice, spinning around through the quick descending Mergulho corner before the final bend on to the pit straight.

Hamilton wrapped up in P19, trailing teammate the Monegasque driver.

Norris and Piastri were well clear of the remaining drivers, with the German's Sauber in third, over half a second behind the Australian's time.

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