Kubica: BMW are second on merit

Although the F1.08 does not appear to have the out-and-out pace of rivals Ferrari and McLaren, the team's consistency has helped Kubica keep in touch with the championship leaders.

And lying just two points adrift of the top of the points standings halfway through the season, Kubica is adamant that his team are there on merit and not just through good fortune.

"Two points (behind) after nine races, I was not expecting to be so close," said Kubica at Hockenheim on Thursday. "But after what has happened to more or less every driver and every team in these first nine races, I think we are not there by mistake, not because we are lucky, but because we did a good job with the team and the whole package works very well, I would say. And this is the reason."

Kubica has continually pushed his team to make development steps with their car to keep up with Ferrari and McLaren, and is confident they are doing everything they can to help his title challenge.

"I'm not seeing any reason why we shouldn't develop to the end. But in the end you should ask not myself, but someone who is designing it. I think the team are trying to do the maximum for this year's car, and trying to also design and work hard on next year's car."

He also admitted to some disappointment about his spin at British Grand Prix, which robbed him of the chance of returning to the head of the points standings.

When asked if it was not frustrating what happened at Silverstone, he said: "Who said it is not frustrating? Of course it would be better to have scored some points, but in the end this is racing.

"In nine races I have not done any mistakes. OK, once in Australia in qualifying, but I still managed to put the car onto the first row.

"In Silverstone there was aquaplaning, and that's all. In the end, if in nine races you don't finish one race, it's still OK. I didn't finish in Australia but that was because of different problems. So I think all in all, in nine races, it has been really good."