Helmut Marko says Red Bull ordered Max Verstappen not to fight Valtteri Bottas for the fastest lap in the closing stages of the Mexico City Grand Prix.
Verstappen looked set to tag on an extra point for achieving the fastest race lap until Mercedes brought in Bottas late in the race to fit a fresh set of softs to deprive the Dutchman of the bonus point.
The Finn's first attempt was thwarted when Verstappen who was running just ahead of Bottas backed off and hampered the Mercedes' pace.
But after taking on another set of softs, Bottas finally succeeded in securing the fastest lap, while Verstappen was asked not to respond.
"We told Max to stay out of it," Marko told Motorsport Magazin. "One point doesn't matter. He would only take a point away from us."
Marko also said Red Bull was reluctant to pit third-placed man Sergio Perez at no cost to try and snatch the extra point.
"We didn't want to risk that," said the Austrian. "There was a chance to overtake Hamilton [for second], and of course that is much more important than one point."
In the Mercedes camp, Wolff said the gamesmanship that took place between Verstappen and Bottas, when the Dutchman hampered the Finn, was par for the course.
"Yeah, it was a bit of playing around," he explained. "Max was aware that Valtteri was going for quickest lap and he then slowed him down, which is absolutely on, he can do that.
"So we went for another set, and this time in free air grabbed that fastest lap back."
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