Montoya has had a poor season so far

Colombia's Montoya is 43 points behind leader Fernando Alonso, while Raikkonen has 37 points to Alonso's 59.

Montoya said: "I still believe I have a chance. But you've got to be realistic and know when it stops.

"If this year means helping Kimi, then that's what it's going to be. But it wouldn't come as a team order."

Teams are not allowed officially to order a driver to move over for a team-mate.

Finland's Raikkonen has won three of the last four races in a season dominated by Renault and McLaren.

Montoya missed two races after suffering a shoulder injury while playing tennis in March and was disqualified from last weekend's Canadian Grand Prix for ignoring a red light when he left the pit lane.

I think you've got to be a team player in every aspect Juan Pablo Montoya

He has 16 points and is behind Ferrari's Michael Schumacher, whose haul of 24 points has left even the German's hopes of an eighth championship looking doubtful.

Montoya added: "I think I've got the pace to close the points on Fernando and Kimi.

"But if this year I need to help Kimi, it doesn't mean I'm going to be out of the championship next year. I think you've got to be a team player in every aspect."

However, Montoya dismissed any suggestion that McLaren, who made a mistake with his second pitstop in Montreal, had attempted to engineer Raikkonen's win at his expense.

He revealed that team boss Ron Dennis had gone out of his way to make amends after the race.

"He came to my hotel room that night to apologise for what happened," said Montoya.

"I don't think I would have seen that at Williams. So I'm pretty confident the team is 100% behind me."