BMW driver Robert Kubica is hopeful that he is able to snatch the Formula One world title from Lewis Hamilton.

With two races remaining, in Shanghai on Sunday and Sao Paulo in a fortnight, Kubica trails leader McLaren's Hamilton by 12 points and Ferrari's Felipe Massa by seven.

Not many are giving the Pole a prayer of becoming world champion, a situation remarkably similar to last year when Kimi Raikkonen found himself a long way adrift of Hamilton and Fernando Alonso.

But given the way Hamilton and Massa have tripped up and stumbled along of late, Kubica cannot be discounted from proceedings.

The 23-year-old certainly feels he is in with a shout as he said: "The last few races have shown up that everything is possible.

"That could be due to the weather, the safety car, like the first corner accident in Fuji.

"It shows racing is unpredictable, and that's why we should try to do our best.

"My approach will be the same as usual, as it has been all season, even when I had zero points after the first race and was leader of the championship after seven races.

"I'm just always trying to do my best, trying to score as many points as possible."

And in an attempt at psychology, Kubica added: "For the last two races, with me 12 points behind, I think the two drivers in front of me have much more to lose than I have to win."

But appreciating his circumstances, Kubica remarked: "It would be good to have the fastest car, to fight for poles and to be able to win races.

"There is no secret that lately we have dropped off pace-wise, with Renault and Toyota quicker than us in Fuji.

"That makes my life and the team's much more difficult to compete against Ferrari and McLaren."

As has occasionally been the case in Formula One, it has not always been the fastest car-driver combination that has won the title, but the most reliable.

That is at least one weapon Kubica can call on, as he acknowledged ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix.

"The only way we have stayed in the championship has been with consistency and reliability, which has been great this season," said Kubica.

"Our position is not the best, but if I'm still among three drivers fighting for the championship it is due to the reliability which is 100% perfect this season."