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The McLaren driver just pipped team-mate and title rival the Australian for the top spot in the final moments of the practice session at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

Norris, who seized the title advantage from Piastri by one point after winning in Mexico City recently, outpaced the Australian by 0.023 seconds.

Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren for most of the session before the sprint shootout set to begin at the evening session.

The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in the points battle, trailing 36 points behind Norris, finished in P17 as his team followed a different programme.

Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the only driver to go off, though minor, when he lost control at corner four soon after starting.

Tsunoda lost control over the exit kerbs before rotating through the escape zone, and was fortunate to get away with just a light touch of the barrier.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the final moments of the practice, rotating twice through the fast downhill Mergulho corner approaching the final corner on to the start-finish straight.

The veteran ended the session in 19th, trailing team-mate the Monegasque driver.

Norris and Piastri were far ahead of the other competitors, with the German's Sauber third fastest, over half a second off Piastri's pace.

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