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Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and title rival the Australian for the quickest lap in the closing stages of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

The British racer, who took the points lead from his teammate by a single point after winning in Mexico City two weeks ago, beat the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.

Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair during the running before sprint qualifying due at 18:30 GMT.

Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, trailing 36 points Norris, ended up in 17th place as his team ran a different programme.

Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to have an incident, though minor, when he lost control at Turn Four soon after starting.

The Japanese spun out over the exit kerbs before rotating through the run-off area, and was blessed to escape 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, turning around through the high-speed Mergulho corner before the final bend on to the main straight.

Hamilton ended the session in 19th place, trailing teammate the Monegasque driver.

The McLaren drivers were well clear of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's car P3, 0.619secs behind the Australian's time.

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