Jun.22 (GMM) McLaren boss Ron Dennis on Sunday said he did not agree with stewards who ordered Lewis Hamilton to serve a drive-through penalty during the French grand prix.

Hamilton, 23, was already struggling at the Magny-Cours circuit following his ten-position grid demotion for the Montreal pitlane crash two weeks ago.

Stewards ruled that the Briton should be punished further in France when he cut a corner after passing Toro Rosso's Sebastian Vettel.

"I don't think he gained a position by being off the road," Dennis said.

"It is our opinion he was past before he got squeezed off the circuit. No position was gained. There's nothing to be gained from saying anything else."

Hamilton finished tenth on Sunday, and now lags race winner Felipe Massa's championship lead by ten points.