Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg face harsh penalties should Mercedes's "final warning" about in-race collisions not be listened to.
After their Austrian clash, the pair met with a stern Toto Wolff early on Thursday where an undisclosed set of consequences for more crashes was laid out.
"Both know the consequences. They listened carefully but we will not make the details public," Wolff told Bild. "But they know where they stand.
"This is the final warning. There are new rules in place now. We are speaking about possible sporting and financial consequences."
However, the world champion team have shied away from their earlier threat of imposing team orders, amid speculation that Mercedes have instead raised the spectre of financial penalties or even race suspensions.
"It doesn't really change anything," said Hamilton. "I will still race."
When asked if the deterrents put in place are "scary", he added: "I guess I should say yes."
The reigning world champion later added: "The [rules] amendment, I can assure you, is very, very firm."
Rosberg, who was booed by the crowd at Silverstone on Thursday, commented: "The message has arrived from the team and they have done a good job in bringing home the message."
The British Grand Prix gets underway at 1pm on Sunday.