Dennis: Saga affected Hamilton

McLaren boss Ron Dennis fears the spy scandal may have taken its toll on Lewis Hamilton.

Hamilton, who was in Paris last Thursday for a World Motor Sport Council hearing that resulted in damning sanctions against the team, was distinctly off the boil throughout the Belgian Grand Prix in comparison to team-mate Fernando Alonso.

Dennis revealed: "I think it's just a question of the nature of the circuit, how they are feeling. Obviously, Lewis has watched the company struggle a little bit, the team struggle and maybe is a little bit more influenced by that."

He added: "But it was just a tenth (of a second) here and a tenth there.

"Traffic played a small part, but at the end of the day Fernando drove a disciplined race, and clearly Lewis tried hard but it was not meant to be. They've both been very disciplined all season. We could have all done without the distractions of the weekend and the run-up to it.

"But hopefully we can now chill out, calm down and we have a good end to the season."

Hamilton, who is just two points ahead of Alonso, has readily conceded he was not 100% at Spa and that he must now pull his socks up for the final three grands prix if he is to clinch the Formula One world title in his rookie year.

Dennis, 60, is currently wrestling with his conscience over whether to appeal the £50million fine and having all his team's constructors' points stripped for their role in the spy saga.

He added: "I want to chill out a little bit and get my head in a clearer perspective.

"I do want to put myself in a better frame of mind, take a point of view myself as to the right thing to do and then share it with my co-shareholders. As I've said several times, I've very much committed to Formula One as an individual."