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The McLaren driver edged out fellow driver and championship contender the Australian for the quickest lap in the final moments of practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Norris, who took the championship lead from Piastri by just one point after winning in Mexico City a fortnight back, topped the Australian by a tiny margin of 0.023secs.

Earlier in the session, Oscar Piastri had been the quickest of the McLaren pair during the running before the sprint shootout due at 18:30 GMT.

Max Verstappen, the sole remaining contender in the championship fight, sitting 36 points behind Norris, finished in 17th position as his Red Bull team opted for a different programme.

Verstappen's team-mate the Japanese driver was the sole competitor to go off, though minor, when he lost control at corner four soon after starting.

The Japanese slid over the exit kerbs before rotating through the escape zone, and was blessed to escape with just a minor contact of the barrier.

The Ferrari of the seven-time champion also had a spin, at the conclusion of the session, turning around through the fast downhill Mergulho turn leading to the final corner on to the start-finish straight.

Hamilton wrapped up in 19th place, just behind teammate Charles Leclerc.

Norris and Piastri were significantly quicker of the other competitors, with the German's car third fastest, 0.619secs off the Australian's time.

The Aston Martin of Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, with Sauber's Gabriel Bortoleto ahead of Mercedes' Russell and Alpine's Pierre Gasly and Williams' Carlos Sainz.