SINGAPORE, Sept 27 - Championship leader Lewis Hamilton warned on Saturday that his hopes of winning the Singapore Grand Prix could all come down to a first corner clash with title rival Felipe Massa.

The McLaren driver qualified second for Sunday's race with Ferrari's Massa capturing his fifth pole position of the season with what he called a "perfect lap" under the city-state's floodlights.

Hamilton was a massive 0.664 seconds slower than the Brazilian around the 5.067km circuit and said the city-state's tight, bumpy streets would make it virtually impossible to win Formula One's first night race if Massa made no mistakes.

The Ferrari driver won the last street circuit race, in Valencia, after the pair had again qualified first and second on the grid.

"Depends who gets to the first corner first," Hamilton told reporters on Saturday.

"You will not be able to overtake out there. It is going to be tough. just have to play it by ear."

The 23-year-old said his car had the potential to go quicker in Sunday's race, which starts at 2000 local , while Massa had already shown his hand. The Briton leads Massa by a single point in the standings with four races remaining.

"My lap was by no means perfect. Felipe said he did a perfect lap," he added.

"We are not worried, we are in a very strong position tomorrow. I am happy where I am, we're looking quite good with our strategy."