Kimi Raikkonen was third and Fernando Alonso fourth.

Massa, last year's winner in Brazil, drove his Ferrari around the 2.6-mile Interlagos track in 1 minute, 11.931 seconds, 0.151 faster than Hamilton and 0.391 faster than teammate Raikkonen. Alonso timed 1:12.356.

"This is sensational," Massa said. "And hopefully the guys behind me will have a good fight. It will be very nice for these (fans) to watch a good race. Hopefully I can go for the victory."

Tomorrow's Brazilian GP will decide the tightest F1 race for the championship in 21 years that features a battle between Hamilton, Alonso and Raikkonen.

Hamilton has 107 points, four more than McLaren teammate and two-time defending champion Alonso and seven more than Raikkonen. A win is worth 10 points and second through eighth are 8-6-5-4-3-2-1.

Hamilton needs to finish first or second to ensure an overall title. The 22-year-old would be the first rookie to win the drivers' championship and become F1's youngest champion, surpassing Alonso's feat in 2005. A title would also make Hamilton the first British F1 champion since Damon Hill in 1996.

"Tomorrow I think we sit in good position," Hamilton said. "It's a good place for us to start."