Lando Norris Tops Piastri in Sao Paulo Practice

Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and championship contender the Australian for the top spot in the closing stages of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Norris, who took the points lead from Piastri by one point after taking the win in Mexico City a fortnight back, beat the Melbourne-born driver by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.

Before then, Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver throughout the hour before sprint qualifying set to begin at the evening session.

The Red Bull star, the other racer in realistic title contention, trailing with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, was classified in 17th position as his team followed a alternative strategy.

His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to have an incident, though minor, when he lost control at Turn Four during the early running.

Tsunoda slid over the exit kerbs before rotating through the gravel trap, and was blessed to escape with just a light touch of the fence.

Ferrari's the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the very end of the practice, turning around through the fast downhill Mergulho turn approaching the final corner on to the pit straight.

The veteran wrapped up in 19th, one place behind teammate the Monegasque driver.

Norris and Piastri were well clear of the rest of the field, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, over half a second behind Piastri's best.

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