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The McLaren driver edged out team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the final moments of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Norris, who took the title advantage from his teammate by just one point after winning in Mexico City a fortnight back, topped the Melbourne-born driver by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.

Until that point, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before the sprint shootout due at the evening session.

The Red Bull star, the only other driver in realistic title contention, sitting 36 points behind Norris, finished in 17th place as his team followed a alternative strategy.

Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to go off, albeit lightly, when he lost control at the fourth corner soon after starting.

Tsunoda spun out over the exit kerbs before sliding over the escape zone, and was blessed to get away with just a minor contact of the barrier.

Ferrari's the seven-time champion also spun, at the final moments of the session, spinning around through the high-speed Mergulho corner before the final corner on to the pit straight.

The seven-time champion finished practice in 19th place, trailing team-mate Charles Leclerc.

The McLaren drivers were significantly quicker of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car in third, over half a second behind Piastri's best.

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