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Lando Norris edged out fellow driver and championship contender the Australian for the fastest time in the dying seconds of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Norris, who seized the title advantage from Piastri by just one point after winning in the Mexican Grand Prix two weeks ago, outpaced the Australian by 0.023 seconds.

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

The Red Bull star, the only other driver in the championship fight, lying with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, ended up in 17th place as his team ran a unique setup.

His teammate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to crash, though minor, when he rotated at the fourth corner soon after starting.

The Japanese spun out over the curbs on exit before spinning across the escape zone, and was blessed to escape with just a light touch of the wall.

The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also lost it, at the final moments of the practice, turning around through the fast downhill Mergulho corner before the final bend on to the start-finish straight.

Hamilton ended the session in 19th place, trailing team-mate Charles Leclerc.

The McLaren drivers were well clear of the remaining drivers, with the German's Sauber third fastest, over half a second off the Australian's time.

The Aston Martin of the Spanish driver was fourth fastest, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Gasly and the Williams of Sainz.