Home hero Felipe Massa made a perfect start to his Formula One title showdown with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton after lapping fastest in today's opening practice at the season-ending Brazilian Grand Prix.

The Ferrari driver, seven points behind Hamilton and embarking on the final stage of what some see as a Mission Impossible to wrest the title from the 23-year-old's grasp, lapped the Interlagos circuit in one minute 12.305 seconds.

Hamilton, who can become the sport's youngest champion after blowing his chance last year, was second and just 0.190 off his rival's pace in a cool and overcast session in which he had set the early pace.

Ferrari's outgoing champion Kimi Raikkonen, the Finn who made up a seven point deficit in Brazil last year to beat the Briton by a single point, was third despite a spin.

Hamilton need only finish fifth on Sunday to be champion, even if Massa wins his home race as expected, and will be unlikely to push too hard in what will be the second race for his Mercedes engine.

Both the Ferraris have new engines for Brazil, a boost for their bid to retain the constructors' championship. They lead McLaren by 11 points.

"We don't have to win (the race) so that is a pressure off our shoulders," Hamilton said after his arrival at the circuit yesterday.

"We have not come here to finish further down the order but we obviously know that it is not do or die."

Poland's Robert Kubica, fighting to end the season in third place for BMW-Sauber, was fourth fastest with McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen fifth and Renault's double world champion Fernando Alonso sixth.