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Lando Norris just pipped team-mate and title rival the Australian for the fastest time in the final moments of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Norris, who took the championship lead from his teammate by just one point after his victory in Mexico City a fortnight back, beat the Melbourne-born driver by a mere 0.023s.

Until that point, Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair throughout the hour before the sprint shootout set to begin at 18:30 GMT.

Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in realistic title contention, trailing 36 points behind behind Norris, finished in 17th position as his Red Bull team followed a alternative strategy.

Verstappen's team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the only driver to go off, though minor, when he spun at Turn Four during the early running.

Tsunoda slid over the track edges before spinning across the run-off area, and was blessed to escape with just a slight brush of the fence.

The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the final moments of the session, rotating twice through the fast downhill corner approaching the final bend on to the pit straight.

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

The McLaren pair were significantly quicker of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's car third fastest, 0.619secs off Piastri's best.

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