🔗 Share this article

The McLaren driver just pipped team-mate and title rival the Australian for the fastest time in the dying seconds of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

The British racer, who seized the points lead from Piastri by one point after his victory in Mexico City recently, outpaced the Australian by a mere 0.023s.

Earlier in the session, Piastri had been the leading McLaren throughout the hour before sprint qualifying scheduled for 6:30 PM GMT.

The Red Bull star, the only other driver in the championship fight, trailing 36 points behind Norris, was classified in 17th place as his Red Bull team followed a unique setup.

Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the sole competitor to go off, albeit lightly, when he spun at corner four early in the session.

The Japanese spun out over the track edges before sliding over the gravel trap, and was fortunate to avoid just a slight brush of the barrier.

The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also spun, at the very end of the session, turning around through the high-speed corner before the final bend on to the pit straight.

The veteran wrapped up in 19th, just behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.

The McLaren pair were well clear of the other competitors, with the German's Sauber P3, over half a second slower than the Australian's time.

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