Karl Wendlinger insists it is "hard to imagine" that Red Bull has ruled out the possibility of deploying a team strategy at the final two races of 2010.
Following suggestions Sebastian Vettel might play a supportive role to boost teammate Mark Webber's chance of winning the drivers' title, Red Bull bosses insisted the pair will enjoy strict equality in Brazil and Abu Dhabi.
But according to Austrian Wendlinger, a former Sauber driver, it is "difficult to imagine" that Red Bull has "totally ruled out" the concept of using team orders.
He also noted on Austrian television Servus TV that Red Bull team boss Christian Horner has confirmed that if there is a lack of spare or new parts in Brazil, it will be Webber who is offered them first.
That is a "psychological advantage" for the Australian, Wendlinger said.
"He (Webber) knows he is better placed in terms of points and that the team wants one of its drivers to be world champion," he added.
Niki Lauda reinforced the view that "intelligence is not the same as team orders".
He was very critical of Ferrari's infamous strategy at Hockenheim, but insists that Red Bull should now be fully behind Webber.
"I've never said anything about (Red Bull using) team orders. Just that they have to be sensible," the triple world champion told Kleine Zeitung newspaper.
"What Ferrari did at Hockenheim for example was an affront to the spectators."
When asked if that means, for example, that Vettel should not try to overtake Webber at Interlagos this weekend, he answered: "Exactly. But this is nothing to do with team orders."
