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The McLaren driver just pipped fellow driver and championship contender the Australian for the fastest time in the closing stages of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

The British racer, who seized the points lead from Piastri by just one point after taking the win in Mexico City a fortnight back, outpaced the Australian by a mere 0.023s.

Before then, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair for most of the session before the sprint shootout set to begin at the evening session.

The Red Bull star, the only other driver in the championship fight, lying 36 points Norris, was classified in 17th place as his Red Bull team followed a alternative strategy.

His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to go off, if briefly, when he lost control at corner four during the early running.

Tsunoda slid over the exit kerbs before rotating through the escape zone, and was blessed to get away with just a minor contact of the wall.

Ferrari's the seven-time champion also lost it, at the conclusion of the session, spinning around through the fast downhill Mergulho corner before the last turn on to the main straight.

Hamilton finished practice in 19th, trailing teammate the Monegasque driver.

The McLaren drivers were significantly quicker of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car P3, 0.619secs slower than Piastri's pace.

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Bortoleto fifth from the Mercedes of Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.