🔗 Share this article

The McLaren driver edged out fellow driver and championship contender Oscar Piastri for the fastest time in the closing stages of practice at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix.

The British racer, who took the title advantage from his teammate by one point after his victory in Mexico City two weeks ago, topped the Australian by a mere 0.023s.

Until that point, Oscar Piastri had been the fastest McLaren driver for most of the session before sprint qualifying due at the evening session.

The Red Bull star, the sole remaining contender in realistic title contention, trailing with a 36-point deficit behind Norris, ended up in 17th position as his team opted for a unique setup.

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

Tsunoda slid over the exit kerbs before spinning across the escape zone, and was fortunate to escape with just a minor contact of the barrier.

Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton also spun, at the very end of the session, rotating twice through the high-speed Mergulho turn before the final bend on to the main straight.

The veteran ended the session in 19th, one place behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.

The McLaren drivers were well clear of the remaining drivers, with Nico Hulkenberg's Sauber in third, 0.619 seconds slower than Piastri's pace.

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