In the FIA's International Sporting Code, the governing body has increased the maximum fine for F1 competitors from €250,000 to one million euros, a move which appeared to have caught teams and drivers off guard.
Several drivers, including GPDA director George Russell, voiced their concerns over what the Mercedes driver called "obscene" figures because a lot of drivers make nowhere near that amount at the start of their F1 career.
Russell's team boss Wolff was equally concerned by the message it sends to F1's fans in today's "tough" economic climate.
"There needs to be some deterrent for grave infringements of the regulations, but none of that was on the radar of anyone that it would be coming," Wolff said on Friday at Austin's US Grand Prix.
"A million, we need to do a reality check with real life, whether that is an adequate fine or not. I don't think we've ever fined a driver 250k, so raising the ceiling is something that one needs to understand where it comes from.
"I don't think we want to portray Formula 1 out there in a world where it's tough enough to give drivers fines of a million, I think half of the grid wouldn't be able to pay them.
"I don't think we should be playing around with those numbers that seem very surreal for people that are watching us."
Source: Autosport