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The McLaren driver edged out team-mate and title rival the Australian for the top spot in the closing stages of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Norris, who seized the championship lead from his teammate by a single point after taking the win in Mexico City two weeks ago, topped the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.

Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver during the running before sprint qualifying due at 6:30 PM GMT.

The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, lying 36 points behind Norris, ended up in P17 as his team ran a alternative strategy.

Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to crash, if briefly, when he rotated at the fourth corner during the early running.

Tsunoda lost control over the exit kerbs before spinning across the gravel trap, and was fortunate to avoid just a slight brush of the wall.

The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the final moments of the session, turning around through the quick descending corner before the final corner on to the start-finish straight.

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

Norris and Piastri were significantly quicker of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car in third, over half a second off the Australian's time.

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