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

Norris, who seized the championship lead from Piastri by one point after taking the win in the Mexican Grand Prix a fortnight back, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by 0.023 seconds.

Before then, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver during the running before the sprint shootout due at the evening session.

Max Verstappen, the only other driver in the championship fight, trailing 36 points Norris, was classified in 17th place as his Red Bull team opted for a unique setup.

Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to crash, though minor, when he spun at Turn Four soon after starting.

The Japanese slid over the exit kerbs before sliding over the escape zone, and was lucky to get away with just a minor contact of the fence.

Ferrari's the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the final moments of the practice, turning around through the fast downhill Mergulho turn before the final corner on to the start-finish straight.

The veteran finished practice in P19, just behind teammate the Monegasque driver.

The McLaren pair were significantly quicker of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's car P3, 0.619 seconds slower than Piastri's pace.

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