SILVERSTONE, Great Britain -- Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton are on their final warnings following their collision at the Austrian Grand Prix.
A meeting between Mercedes core race team and its drivers on Thursday morning resulted in new "rules of engagement" on track, but ultimately the drivers will be free to race. Although Wolff refused to go into details about the new agreement, he confirmed another collision would have serious consequences.
"We have had a warning," he said. "This is the final warning, consider it like that."
Asked why he could not elaborate on the details of the agreement, Wolff added: "Because it is like a contractual detail. We are talking about possible sporting, possible financial consequences and we wouldn't want to go into detail.
"You know how a driver is calibrated and what is important for a driver so it is clear that if it would happen -- which is entirely in their hands -- it is something that would have a negative outcome for their campaign."
When it was put to Wolff that it was like "mission impossible" to try to prevent Rosberg and Hamilton colliding on track, he stressed that the situation is in the drivers' hands.
"If it would be a mission impossible then we wouldn't see any clean racing out there and that would mean every single overtake would end in contact. There is clean racing and the great racing is hard racing, trying to pass and out-smart your competitor without the contact.
"It could damage your own race so I believe -- especially considering the skill-set of the two -- clean racing is possible and achievable.
"The fundamental principle is the moment the lights go green, they have a responsibility, we are not sitting with them in the car, it is just two of them. We provide them with the best possible car but once the race is on only the two of them are able to manage the situation, which is a good thing because it is entirely within their hands and the outcome is in their hands."
Wolff said there is a fine line between doing what is best for the sport and what is best for the team.
"I completely understand your point. I think we had more press around F1, Mercedes, the controversy... we gave real narrative and it is a fine balance. My job is to secure wins and championships in the least detriment and most possible way for Mercedes-Benz. If the drivers crash three times in five races it is not positive anymore and is risking our main objective, and this is to win the championship.
"I understand the importance of headlines for F1 and it is great, so it is not an easy task and I wouldn't want to change the wiring. This is the essence. In a couple of years we could be looking back and saying Rosberg-Hamilton was one of the most iconic and best fights, similar to Senna-Prost had.
"I am very aware of that and I don't want to over-manage it and try to extinguish the whole thing. Equally there is the responsibility for the organisation, the brand and the background and if every Monday after the race you have headlines that there is animosity or controversy around the drivers, that is not good either."