Toto Wolff believes Red Bull Racing's criticism of engine partner Renault is exactly why Mercedes would think twice before ever supplying the Milton Keynes-based outfit.
Red Bull and Renault have seen their relationship challenged in the past few seasons, the pair even coming to blows in 2015 following a dismal period of under-performance and lack of reliability.
Both Christian Horner and Helmut Marko both singled out the French manufacture again this year, lamenting the relative power deficit which exists between its unit and Mercedes.
An unimpressed Wolff points to Red Bull's incessant potshots as a good reason not to supply the team, if the opportunity ever came about.
"It is exactly because they are saying it like this and undermining their current partner that they are not having one!" said the Mercedes boss in an interview with ESPN.
"In Formula 1, like everywhere else in life - be it your private life or business life - it's about compromise and acknowledging your partner's strengths and weaknesses and helping each other out.
"That is very much the culture we have at Mercedes and that has made us successful in the last few years.
"Respect is a super important part of our values and this is why we have chosen the partners we have."
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