The Mercedes design complied with the rules after being quoted saying it was illegal, according to the Red Bull team principal.
He said it was an extreme interpretation and it looked like it was legal.
The earlier quotes about the car were not made.
The first two days of testing ended with Verstappen 0.13 seconds quicker than Hamilton.
A number of senior figures stressed that it was not possible to accurately judge form from testing, as the world champion trailed Carlos Sainz of Ferrari by 0.478 seconds.
The new season starts at the same track next weekend, but there is only one day of testing left on Saturday.
The aerodynamic upgrade to the car that first ran at the opening test in Barcelona was unveiled at the start of the Bahrain test.
The upgrade features side-pods that are smaller and aerodynamic wing sections with wing mirrors mounted on them.
According to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, Mercedes have introduced a new design at this week's final pre-season test inBahrain, which has raised doubts about its legality.
Those are not mirror mounts, but two wings. They have built vertical baffles. The mirror mount has nothing to do with them.
From our point of view, Mercedes has gone too far. That doesn't correspond to the spirit of the regulations. These wings are not legal for us.
Red Bull initially said the quotes were incorrect, before clarifying that they were not official.
The journalist in question is a veteran reporter named Michael Schmidt.
At the news conference on Friday, he was asked about the contradiction in his position.
He said that the comments had not been made. The car is innovative and it is an interesting solution. The Mercedes car is in compliance with the regulations. It is a different interpretation and a different solution.
There isn't anything that defines the spirit of the regulations, it either complies or it doesn't. That is not something we can judge.
The FIA have access to all of the drawings. It would have been submitted in advance. It is an interesting concept and a radical one. Is it quick or not? In terms of its compliance, that is very much an FIA matter.
It was impossible to tell which teams were in the best shape.
He said that the first snap shot of the fuel will come out when people run.
I don't think Mercedes have shown their hand yet. The team looks good. Hopefully we can be there as well. It looks like McLaren has a strong car. Alpine have a strong car.
George Russell claimed that Mercedes looked in the best shape so far.
The Spaniard said that it was typical of Mercedes to hype up the others and then come to the first race and blow the competition away.
If it was the first season they did it, I would believe them, but they have done it for five, six years now and they keep surprising us in the first race. I don't believe much.
The analysis of the gps speed traces available to all the teams suggested that Mercedes were very competitive.
He said that we can see what they are doing in the gps app.
McLaren admitted that they were having a hard time getting the front brake problems fixed because of the need for new parts.
Their driver was sick and missed a second day of running.
The Australian would be fit enough to run on the final day, according to the team boss.
Williams missed most of the day after a fire in the rear brakes caused Nicholas Latifi to spin off during the morning session and there was a failure at the rear as the fire was extinguished. The team couldn't get out again.
One minute 33.528 seconds was spent by Carlos Sainz.
Max Verstappen is a Red Bull athlete.
3 Lance Stroll (Can)
Lewis Hamilton is in Mercedes.
5 Esteban Ocon is from France.
Charles Leclerc is from Monaco.
Lando Norris has a McLaren.
Sebastian Vettel is from Germany.
9 Kevin Magnussen (Den)
Alpha Tauri by Yuki Tsunoda is 1:36.802.
Valtteri Bottas is a driver for Alfa Romeo.
Mick Schumacher (Ger) has a time of 1:37.846.
George Russell has a Mercedes.
Nicholas Latifi had a 1:39.
15 Zhou Guanyu (Chi) Alfa Romeo.
The C4 and C2 are the same tire. All times on C3. The row over the Mercedes car took a new twist as Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton were second and fourth fastest in pre-season testing.
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