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The McLaren driver just pipped team-mate and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the top spot in the closing stages of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Norris, who took the title advantage from Piastri by just one point after winning in Mexico City recently, outpaced the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.

Before then, Oscar Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before the sprint shootout scheduled for 6:30 PM GMT.

The Red Bull star, the other racer in realistic title contention, sitting 36 points Norris, was classified in P17 as his team opted for a alternative strategy.

Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to go off, if briefly, when he lost control at corner four during the early running.

Tsunoda slid over the curbs on exit before sliding over the gravel trap, and was fortunate to escape with just a minor contact of the wall.

The Ferrari of Lewis Hamilton also lost it, at the conclusion of the practice, rotating twice through the fast downhill Mergulho corner approaching the final corner on to the start-finish straight.

The veteran wrapped up in P19, trailing teammate the Monegasque driver.

Norris and Piastri were significantly quicker of the other competitors, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, 0.619 seconds slower than the Australian's time.

Aston Martin's Fernando Alonso was in fourth, with the Sauber of Gabriel Bortoleto in front of Mercedes' Russell and the Alpine of Pierre Gasly and Williams' Sainz.