Kubica has a four-point lead in the drivers' standings

Formula One championship leader Robert Kubica has played down his title hopes ahead of Sunday's French Grand Prix.

Kubica, 23, took a surprise win for BMW Sauber in Canada on 8 June to take the lead in the drivers' standings.

"Looking at the situation of me and my team, I don't see myself as a title contender," said Kubica.

"It is normally the fastest driver and car that wins the title, but sometimes it happens that in some seasons it is the most consistent driver."

In the last six Grands Prix Kubica has finished second, third, fourth, fourth, second and first.

Earlier this month Kubica's road to success in Montreal was cleared when McLaren's Lewis Hamilton drove into the back of Kimi Raikkonen's stationary Ferrari in the pit lane while the world champion waited for a red light to change.

The reliability for now is 100% perfect Robert Kubica

Following the race, Kimi Raikkonen said he was glad Kubica had claimed victory at Montreal.

"It was good for us that Kubica won in Canada," the Finn said on his website.

"It was better that he got 10 points and not my main rivals (team-mate Felipe Massa and Hamilton) who are now just three points ahead of me."

Raikkonen failed to score in Canada - for the second race in a row - while Kubica's first win sent him four points clear of Massa and Hamilton.

Asked whether he felt underestimated by Raikkonen, Kubica said: "Looking at the situation in the case of Kimi, I would worry more about Felipe and Lewis than myself."

606 DEBATE Have you been impressed by Kubica so far this year? str8guy

Kubica added BMW Sauber's exceptional reliability was the key to his current position at the top of the standings.

"The only way we could achieve this position is without making mistakes, with good strategy and good reliability.

"The reliability for now is 100% perfect and the guys in the workshop have made a really big step forward in this direction."

However BMW Sauber team boss Mario Theissen suggested Kubica was being modest: "We as a team and Robert as a driver have exceeded expectations so far, so the pressure is not on us."