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The McLaren driver just pipped team-mate and championship contender the Australian for the quickest lap in the dying seconds of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Norris, who seized the points lead from Piastri by a single point after his victory in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, topped the Australian by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.

Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren for most of the session before the sprint shootout due at 6:30 PM GMT.

The Red Bull star, the other racer in the points battle, lying 36 points Norris, ended up in 17th position as his team followed a unique setup.

His teammate the Japanese driver was the only driver to have an incident, if briefly, when he lost control at corner four during the early running.

The Japanese lost control over the curbs on exit before rotating through the escape zone, and was blessed to avoid just a light touch of the barrier.

Ferrari's the seven-time champion also spun, at the conclusion of the practice, rotating twice through the fast downhill Mergulho corner before the last turn on to the pit straight.

Hamilton wrapped up in 19th place, just behind team-mate the Monegasque driver.

Norris and Piastri were far ahead of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber P3, 0.619 seconds slower than the Australian's time.

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