Verstappen’s team-mate Yuki Tsunoda was the one driver to crash, albeit evenly, when he spun at Flip 4 early within the session.
The Japanese misplaced management over the exit kerbs earlier than spinning throughout the run-off space, and was lucky to get away with only a gentle contact of the barrier.
Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton additionally had a spin, on the very finish of the session, rotating twice coming via the quick downhill Mergulho nook resulting in the ultimate nook on to the pit straight.
The seven-time champion ended the session nineteenth, one place behind team-mate Charles Leclerc.
The McLaren drivers have been properly away from the remainder of the sphere, with Nico Hulkenberg’s Sauber third quickest, 0.619secs off Piastri’s tempo.
Aston Martin’s Fernando Alonso was fourth quickest, with Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto fifth from Mercedes’ George Russell and Alpine’s Pierre Gasly and Williams’ Carlos Sainz.
