Lewis Hamilton driving around the Hungarian Grand Prix circuit [Picture courtesy of www.mclaren.com]

LEWIS Hamilton faces the fight of his life trying to stay in touch with the flying Red Bulls and Ferraris in today’s (Sunday’s) 2010 Hungarian Grand Prix.

The Herts-born Formula 1 racer will start round 12 of the FIA World Championship from fifth place on the grid in his McLaren Mercerdes MP4-25.

Qualifying at the Hungaroring on Saturday was once again dominated by Red Bull with German Sebastian Vettel and Aussie rival Mark Webber completing another one-two.

Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa complete an all-Ferrari second row ahead of world championship leader Hamilton.

At least Lewis is in sight of his title rivals. McLaren colleague Jenson Button unfortuantely failed to make it through to Q3 yesterday and will start a lowly 11th.

Without the one-lap speed of the Red Bulls, 25-year-old Hamilton was happy with being on the third row of the grid.

Speaking after qualifying, he said: “I was relieved to get into Q3 – it was very close – and I feel I pulled every last drop out of the car. So I’m satisfied with the job we did today [Saturday].”

The start will decide Hamilton’s grand prix – and whether he can secure enough points to stay clear of the chasing pack in the race for the world title.

“Obviously, we’ll have to work hard again tomorrow [Sunday] – but, all things considered, it’s a good place for us to be starting from tomorrow: it’s on the clean side of the track, which is a positive, and it’s a long haul down to Turn One.

“So anything’s possible. As I say, I’m quite happy.”

Hamilton added: “Our car is the best it’s ever been at this circuit. And we’ll stay focused for tomorrow.

“I need to get as good a start as I’ve been getting for the past few races, stay clean, get around the first corner and keep moving forwards after that.

“It would be great to make up some places off the grid because it’s very hard to overtake around here. But we’ll do the best job we can. I’m ready for it. Bring it on!”

Button has a harder task from 11th but will also go on the attack.

He said: “The good thing is that I’ll be starting on the clean side of the track.

“Normally, that can make you up a place or two at the start, and there’ll be lots of opportunities into the first corner, which is always exciting here. Plus, I’ve got two new sets of tyres for the race.

“So we can still do a lot from 11th – and I’ll do my very best to pick up some valuable world championship points from there.

“I suppose you could say we’ve just got to be brave.”

The Hungarian Grand Prix in Budapest starts at 1pm.