Days after Christian Horner admitted that his team's request to use Mercedes engines in 2016 had been turned down, Toto Wolff has shed further light on the decision.

"We decided with our board that we as an engine supplier - and as a team - have worked hard and long to achieve the success we have today, after taking the decision to enter the sport again as a works team in 2010," he told the official F1 website.

"Therefore we decided two weeks ago against exploring an engine supply to Red Bull," he admitted. "We wish to continue with our model to support independent, privateer racing teams - and to respect the relationships we already have in place with our customers - alongside our primary focus on the Mercedes works team.

Asked if he was the driving force behind the decision, he said: "I have never hidden my opinion. But we take decisions collectively and objectively, evaluating all the pros and cons, and not as individuals.

"It is the opinion of somebody who is responsible for the Mercedes motorsport program," he added, referring to his feelings on the matter, "responsible for 1,200 employees and who also has the responsibility to represent the Mercedes-Benz brand in the right way in Formula One‎ - and to make sure it is represented in the right way by others, too. Full stop!"

Mercedes also turned down an approach from Haas.

"We decided against the deal, as we want to concentrate on our main focus - on our number-one objective - and that is the works Mercedes-Benz F1 Team," he admits. "Every dilution would have harmed our main goal and that is to win races and championships. Haas is a cooperation partner with Ferrari and we would never interfere with a cooperation that hasn't even started on track."

At Monza, Mercedes introduced its upgraded engine, however, there is concern from the customer teams as to when they might access to it.

"We have the philosophy of supplying the same specification of engines to all," says Wolff. "There might be exceptional situations, like the one in Monza, where we carry out development work that needs to be checked on track, and therefore the supply of parts is very difficult.

"You saw that on Nico's car, I am not sure if our customers would have been happy with a car stopping because they ran a development engine!"

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by saintsman_2000, 23/09/2015 6:17

"kenji
How can you blame Renault? Just because Mercedes are doing a better job than them?
lol if Renault/Lotus come good next year!!! I can't see RedBull winning with a Ferrari engine! hehe!"

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2. Posted by ape, 22/09/2015 22:45

"Is Red Bull really thinking other engine suppliers like to be bashed in public if something doesn't go well .Idiots.
Time for Redbull to go home ...bye bye RedBully. "

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3. Posted by Kkiirmki, 22/09/2015 22:36

"Maybe Ferrari could do a one for one trade, Adrian Newey for an engine deal?"

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4. Posted by CL, 22/09/2015 19:41

"Hmmm, wonder how much Ferrari are being bribed...sorry, persuaded to keep red bull in the championship? If Renault decide to leave that would be three teams down if lotus can't find something to keep them going."

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5. Posted by Chris SA, 22/09/2015 13:23

"He knows he will get his behind kicked if he does, also his story of supplying equal spec engines to rivals is rubbish, their is no way in hell that Williams has the same spec engine as Merc. Sure Red Bull and Ferrari can do a deal and both teams will beat Merc pretty soon. Scrap the Strategy Group, teams should not rule over the F1."

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6. Posted by nonickname, 22/09/2015 13:04

"Interesting comments.
This means they are afraid of Red Bull because of a certain designer and are in contempt/have no problems with the other teams design efforts. Must feel good to classed as a second class design team.
I look forward to a Red Bull with Ferrari power. At least Ferrari back their designers."

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7. Posted by kenji, 22/09/2015 13:01

"Obviously mercedes are running scared. Who would've thought that the much maligned 'fizzy drinks company' could send a shiver down the spine of the all conquering 1200 personnel auto juggernaut called mercedes. even their 'sennaesque' number one driver voiced his concern that he didn't want to see red bull get a decent engine!!! so much for competition. F1 is becoming farcical. renault are the prime cause of all this. failure to bring a competitive engine to red bull after two and a half years of aimless trying is simply unacceptable in these hi tech days."

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8. Posted by You Started It!!, 22/09/2015 12:57

"Now they're ****ed!!!"

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Wolff admits no desire to aid Red Bull

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