Lotus boss Eric Boullier says tyre management will be key to beating McLaren in Hungary

Hamilton has been in dominant form over the Hungaroring weekend, and ended up four tenths clear of Romain Grosjean to secure his first pole position since the Malaysian Grand Prix.

That form has left Boullier in no doubt about where his team's car stacks up against McLaren - but that opportunities do still exist for it to triumph.

When asked by AUTOSPORT if he felt the team had the speed to beat Hamilton, Boullier said: "The pace not, no. The only expectation we can have is obviously our car having better tyre degradation than McLaren.

"So if we can keep contact with him, or even make a better start, then with strategy at least we can pass him. But it will be difficult."

Boullier has praised the job that both Grosjean and his team did in addressing the set-up issues that had left the Frenchman struggling for pace in the last two races.

"After a difficult weekend in Hockenheim and a difficult start to the weekend here, we spent a lot of time last week in Paris to talk about a lack of performance.

"We sat down on Friday night and looked at the different scenarios, and tried to work out why it could go one way or why not. And we found out that maybe we had to strip down a little bit and go back on some technical choices to make the car suit him better. And it looks like it worked.

"So I am happy with the group, the team, and that we all worked constructively together."