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The McLaren driver just pipped fellow driver and title rival Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the dying seconds of the practice session at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Norris, who took the points lead from his teammate by one point after winning in Mexico City recently, beat the Australian by 0.023 seconds.

Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before the sprint shootout scheduled for the evening session.

Max Verstappen, the other racer in realistic title contention, lying 36 points behind Norris, ended up in P17 as his team ran a unique setup.

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

The Japanese lost control over the track edges before spinning across the escape zone, and was lucky to escape with just a light touch of the wall.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also had a spin, at the very end of the practice, spinning around through the quick descending Mergulho corner before the final bend on to the start-finish straight.

The seven-time champion finished practice in 19th, trailing teammate Charles Leclerc.

Norris and Piastri were far ahead of the rest of the field, with the German's car third fastest, 0.619 seconds behind the Australian's time.

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