Big decision to make? Ask Twitter

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(CNN) -- Mercedes Formula One team is facing a million dollar question -- and it has decided to ask the audience.

After another bruising on-track encounter between its drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at the Belgian Grand Prix, Mercedes is considering introducing team orders for the remaining seven races.

The team's head of motorsport Toto Wolff described Sunday's lap two clash, which effectively ended Hamilton's race and Rosberg's chance of victory, as "unacceptable."

"It has been our clear policy to let the drivers race this year but rule number one is: don't hit each other," Wolff told reporters in Spa.

"To see that kind of contact, so early in the race, is an unacceptable level of risk to be taking out on track.

"It cannot -- and will not -- happen again."

To make sure it doesn't, Mercedes asked its half a million Twitter followers for advice on Thursday.

"Team orders or free racing? There has been a lot of debate since Belgium -- this is a chance to have your say," it asked via Twitter.

It then posted two options, one in favor of team orders and another in favor of free racing.

Fans were asked to vote on the issue by either retweeting or marking their preferred option as a favorite.

The team then announced the result of the vote after four hours of voting, revealing 92% of the audience wanted the drivers to be allowed to continue to race each other.

The people have spoken! 92% of you favour free racing, 8% team orders. Now, Let's take it one step further... F1 pic.twitter.com/xRdPgBDROA

Proving just how thorny the issue of team orders is in F1, Mercedes then asked: "To those who would prefer to see team orders implemented, how would you employ them?

"To the 92% in favor of free racing, what sanctions would you impose for breaking the 'no contact' rule? Would you suspend a driver for a race and not maximize constructors' points? Perhaps you'd set the order at qualifying slots?"

Rosberg and Hamilton are locked in an intense rivalry for the 2014 world title.

The German is now 29 points -- more than a race win -- ahead of his English rival and former teenage friend.

It seems when it comes to solving the problem at Mercedes there are no easy answers, even for the team itself.

Via: Big decision to make? Ask Twitter

Susie Wolff makes her mark

(CNN) -- Susie Wolff put the disappointments of Silverstone behind her on Friday with an impressive run in the first free practice session ahead of Sunday's German Grand Prix.

The Williams development driver only managed four laps during practice at the British Grand Prix a fortnight ago before engine problems curtailed her involvement.

But it was a happier story at Hockenheim as the 31-year-old Scot completed 20 laps finishing a highly respectable 15th.

Her best lap time of one minute 20.769 seconds was just 0.227 seconds behind Williams' driver Felipe Massa who finished the session in 11th place.

Things had not looked so promising for Wolff earlier in the day as she crawled round her out lap in first gear before returning to the pits.

Thankfully, it wasn't long before the mechanical problems were resolved and she was back on track -- even briefly clocking the fastest lap of the session.

Wolff has been a development driver for Williams since 2012 and is the first female driver to participate in a F1 race weekend since Italy's Giovanna Amati attempted to qualify for three races during the 1992 season.

Lewis Hamilton, speaking ahead of his recent victory at Silverstone, said Wolff's participation at two practice sessions this season was fully deserved.

"She's very, very talented," said the Mercedes driver, who raced against her in his junior career in karting and Formula Renault. "It's really cool to see her in a Formula One car.

"I didn't race against many girls. Susie was one of the very few, if not the only one, I raced against. We shared a podium together a couple of times."

"Solid run by Susie 0.2 off @MassaFelipe19 is no mean feat, and should be more than enough to silence the doubters."Woo Hoo @Susie_Wolff !

Wolff, who replaced Massa's teammate Valtteri Bottas for Friday's first practice session, finished 1.638 seconds off the pace set by current championship leader Nico Rosberg.

After her morning in the car, @Susie_Wolff takes time to talk withe the media GermanGP pic.twitter.com/TDb6wep14O

Hamilton was fractionally behind (0.065 seconds) his teammate with Ferrari's Fernando Alonso third and Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull fourth.

The Australian's teammate and last year's race winner Sebastian Vettel finished the session in sixth, one place behind McLaren's Jenson Button.

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Via: Susie Wolff makes her mark

Ricciardo scores maiden victory

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(CNN) -- Daniel Ricciardo took advantage of a rare sign of vulnerability from the all-conquering Mercedes team to score his maiden victory in a thrilling finish to the Canadian Grand Prix Sunday.

The Red Bull rookie overtook title leader Nico Rosberg in the closing stages of the 70-lap race in Montreal and took the checkered flag under the safety car after Felipe Massa of Williams and Sergio Perez in his Force India crashed while battling for minor places.

It was an astonishing turn around after another race set to be dominated by Mercedes with title leader Rosberg battling to hold off teammate Lewis Hamilton for the honors.

The early stages had been marked by an early safety car when the two Marussias of Briton Max Chilton and Frenchman Jules Bianchi's collided on the first lap.

Read: Rosberg pips Hamilton to Canada pole

Rosberg, who started from pole, eventually came under pressure from Hamilton, who had initially lost second place to Vettel.

But both suffered power problems, allowing the pack to close up with Massa briefly taking the lead.

Hamilton finally passed Rosberg to take second, but then was forced to retire with a rear brake problem.

Rosberg, who reclaimed the lead, was unable to hold off the charging Ricciardo, but will be consoled by opening up a potentially decisive 22-point lead in the championship race over Hamilton.

In a fine day for Red Bull, four-time champion Sebastian Vettel completed the final podium spot, but has been beaten by his precocious teammate in the last five races.

"I am still a bit in shock," Ricciardo said at the presentations.

Read: Rosberg wins in Monte Carlo

"Hamilton had a problem and Rosberg was slow down the straights," he revealed.

"I really struggled to get past (Sergio) Perez but managed to finally get a run out of the last chicane and get a nice run out of turn one and set my sights on Nico with couple of laps to go.

"I finally managed to get in the right spot to use DRS and it's an amazing feeling right now."

Rosberg, winner of the last race in Monaco, had made a brave attempt to hold on to his lead.

"I lost a lot of power in the straights but it did not quite work out. I couldn't hold off Daniel Ricciardo," he admitted.

Behind the front runners, Jenson Button took a fine fourth for McLaren with Nico Hulkenberg in fifth for Force India and Fernando Alonso sixth for Ferrari.

Read: Shades of Prost and Senna rivalry

Finn Valtteri Bottas was seventh in the second Williams ahead of Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne of Toro Rosso.

Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen in the second McLaren and Kimi Raikkonen in the second Ferrari completed the points scoring.

Perez and Massa, who walked away from their 240kph crashes, were classified 11th and 12th, scant consolation after both scented victory as Mercedes faltered.

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Via: Ricciardo scores maiden victory

Hamilton completes hat-trick

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(CNN) -- Britain's Lewis Hamilton led a Mercedes one-two at the Chinese Grand Prix Sunday as his teammate Nico Rosberg clung on to his lead in the F1 world championship title race.

It was the third straight victory for Hamilton after his retirement in the opening round in Australia and he led for every one of the 56 laps in Shanghai after starting from pole position.

By contrast, Rosberg had to battle through the field after a wretched start and only overhauled Fernando Alonso in his Ferrari after the final round of pit stops.

Read more: CNN's essential guide to F1 in 2014

Rosberg, who won in Australia, has a four-point lead over Hamilton after four rounds of the 2014 season, which is being dominated by their all-conquering Mercedes team.

Alonso's third was a rare bright spot in a difficult season for Ferrari, whose team boss Stefano Domenicali quit earlier this week, but it was a frustrating afternoon for Red Bull and defending four-time champion Sebastian Vettel.

The German had to give best to his rookie teammate Daniel Ricciardo in the battle for a distant fourth after initially running in second following a fine start.

Vettel also appeared to disregard team orders after being told to let Australia's Ricciardo past.

"Tough luck" came the reply over race radio, but he did move over shortly afterwards.

Read more: Hamilton wins duel with Rosberg in Bahrain

Hamilton was involved in an epic battle with Rosberg in Bahrain, but spent much of the latest race in splendid isolation, finishing over 18 seconds clear as he took the checkered flag.

"It's incredible, I just can't believe how amazing this car is," the 2008 world champion said in his post-race podium interview. "I was just really racing myself," he added.

Two-time champion Alonso was delighted to have edged ahead of the two Red Bulls after the ructions within his team which have seen Domenicali replaced by Marco Mattiacci.

"It was a good weekend, we improved the car and were more competitive," he said.

"We've not had the start to the season we would have liked, but we are still in the fight," added the Spaniard.

Nico Hulkenberg was sixth for Force India, just holding off Finn Valtteri Bottas in his Williams.

Bottas and Rosberg made heavy contact on the first corner but both were able to continue unhindered. "There were cars all over the place and it was great my car held on," a relieved Rosberg said.

Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen, Sergio Perez in the second Force India and youngster Daniil Kvyat in a Toro Rosso completed the points scoring positions.

Read more: Why can't women win in F1?

Hamilton was completing his 25th career win and it was the first time he has achieved a run of three successive victories, underlining his challenge for a coveted second world crown.

With four races out of 19 gone, Mercedes already have established a massive lead in the constructors' standings with 154 points, 97 more than second-placed Red Bull, who disappointed in the race proper Sunday after promising performances in practice and qualifying.

They will hope to have closed the gap in technical prowess by the time of the fifth round of the season in Barcelona from May 9-11, a circuit which has favored Red Bull in the past.

Via: Hamilton completes hat-trick

Hamilton wins tense Bahrain battle

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(CNN) -- Bernie Ecclestone had called it "unacceptable," while Ferrari's president chimed in on the lack of engine noise and apparent "taxi driving" enforced by fuel restrictions -- but Formula One delivered what its fans most want on Sunday.

Pure racing. The exhilarating sight -- if not sound -- of drivers overtaking and pushing the limits.

While, like last season, there is clearly one dominant team -- this time Mercedes -- the introduction of new design rules and the smaller, yet seemingly more powerful turbo engines has added an element that had been lacking when Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull dominated so comprehensively in 2013.

"I strongly dislike coming second to Lewis, but on the other hand that was the most exciting race I've ever had in my career," Mercedes' championship leader Nico Rosberg said after being beaten into second place in Bahrain by Englishman Hamilton.

"Today was a great day for the sport, and hopefully you had a lot of fun watching on television."

Hamilton triumphed by just over three seconds, having overtaken pole-sitting teammate Rosberg at the start but then being hauled back by the safety car following a collision between Lotus' Pastor Maldonado and Sauber's Esteban Gutierrez. The Mexican escaped unscathed despite his car's spectacular somersault.

"It was exciting. Nico drove fantastically well, very fair, and it was hard to keep him behind at the end," said 2008 world champion Hamilton, who moved up to equal 10th on the all-time victories list with the 24th checkered flag of his career.

"I was on a knife edge the whole time. It was a relief when I crossed the line."

The childhood friends and rivals have dominated this season, winning all three races and claiming all three pole positions -- Rosberg now has an 11-point advantage at the top, with Nico Hulkenberg a further 22 back from Hamilton in third.

It has been a big turnaround for Mercedes, which finished second in last year's constructors' standings -- a massive 236 points behind Red Bull.

But the German manufacturer has adapted best to the new rules -- reflected in the Mercedes-powered Force India claiming a surprise podium placing at Sakhir as Hulkenberg's teammate Sergio Perez came in third, some 23 seconds behind Rosberg.

Red Bull, struggling this season with its Renault engines, did manage fourth place as Daniel Ricciardo upstaged Vettel by overcoming the 10-place penalty that put him 13th on the start grid.

Hulkenberg was fifth in a notable double for Force India, ahead of his fellow German and four-time world champion Vettel -- winner of the past two races in Bahrain.

Mercedes-powered Williams took seventh and eighth through Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas respectively.

Massa's former Ferrari teammate Fernando Alonso came home in a disappointing ninth, disconsolately punching the air in irony as he crossed the line ahead of new colleague Kimi Raikkonen.

McLaren, also powered by Mercedes, had a disappointing outing as 2009 world champion Jenson Button retired two laps from the end in his 250th race while rookie Kevin Magnussen -- second in the season opener and ninth in Malaysia -- quit after 40 of the 57 laps.

Maldonado was given a five-place penalty for the next race in China and three points against his Super Licence after hitting Gutierrez on lap 41.

Marussia's Jules Bianchi was given two penalty points -- a total of 12 means a one-race ban -- for ending the race of Gutierrez's Sauber teammate Adrian Sutil, who has a five-place penalty for China after an infringement in Saturday's qualifying.

The F1 caravan will head to Shanghai in two weeks with the sport's chief executive Ecclestone demanding changes after criticisms over the perceived lack of atmosphere at races.

"People buying tickets are expecting to see what Formula One used to be, and as I've mentioned before, I've had letters from promoters," the 83-year-old told reporters in the paddock before the Bahrain race, which was celebrating its 10th anniversary.

"They're all worried if they lose spectators then they are going to be in trouble.

"What is important is that the teams know the problem, the engine manufacturers know the problem, and they're trying to sort it."

Ferrari president Luca Di Montezemolo also voiced his concerns.

"I don't want to think of the decline of Formula One, and if we look at it today, we have a race that is no longer Formula One," the Italian said before the GP.

"We have to give back to Formula One its characteristics. We cannot have an economy formula. It has to be extreme, with racing from the first lap to the last.

"Formula One is also about the engine music -- not noise -- and we also have to make sure it is not too complicated with regard to the rules."

However, the head of motorsport's governing body said the 2014 changes had been necessary due to "environment legislation" which was restricting the use of circuits for F1, and said teams had to adapt to the new challenges.

"If you ask Hamilton and Rosberg if they are driving like taxi drivers ... if you have an efficient car you don't have any problem," said FIA president Jean Todt, formerly team boss at Ferrari when Michael Schumacher was the dominant force of F1.

"It seems Mercedes is stronger. I don't have the power to say 'Let's slow them down.' If they are quicker than the others I think it is a challenge for the other teams to catch them.

"It is completely unfair to punish a team who has been doing a better job."

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Via: Hamilton wins tense Bahrain battle

Rosberg wins F1 season opener

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(CNN) -- Germany's Nico Rosberg ushered in Formula One's new era with a dominant victory in the Australian Grand Prix Sunday as defending four-time champion Sebastian Vettel and polesitter Lewis Hamilton were forced to retire.

Rosberg finished 24.5 seconds clear of Australia's Daniel Ricciardo, with rookie Kevin Magnussen in third, the first Dane to occupy a podium spot at a grand prix.

But just hours after Australia's Ricciardo had celebrated a stunning debut for Red Bull in front of his home crowd, his dreams came crashing down.

Ricciardo was excluded following a decision by the FIA, the sport's governing body, that he had breached fuel consumption rules.

McLaren's Magnussen moved up to second and his teammate Jenson Button was promoted to third.

Red Bull said in a statement: "Inconsistencies with the FIA fuel flow meter have been prevalent all weekend up and down the pit lane.

"The team and (engine supplier) Renault are confident the fuel supplied to the engine is in full compliance with the regulations."

Ricciardo's teammate and world champion Sebastian Vettel suffered a sorry opening to the season.

The German slipped back through the field after starting from 12th on the grid, unable to engage full power in his car before pulling out on lap six of 57 at Albert Park in Melbourne.

Read: Hamilton takes pole in Australia

The same fate also befell Hamilton, who was passed by his Mercedes teammate Rosberg off the start and retired after only three laps.

A crash on the first corner saw Kamui Kobayashi's return to F1 with Caterham come to abrupt end, taking out an unhappy Felipe Massa in the Williams.

Massa's teammate Valtteri Bottas showed the car was competitive, charging through the field until he brushed the wall on the 10th lap.

Debris from the crash meant the safety car was deployed, although Finland's Bottas was able to recover to finish a fine sixth.

All the while the unflappable Rosberg was never under any serious challenge as he raced to his fourth career F1 victory.

He was quick to praise his team for giving him such a dominant car under the radical new regulations deployed for the 2014 season.

"What a car you have given me, what a car," he said on race radio as he celebrated.

Rosberg, whose father Keke won the 1982 world title, summed it up during the podium celebrations: "I took off from the start like a Silver Arrow and after that the car was really quick today."

Read: F1 tech to benefit road cars?

Outside the podium positions, Jenson Button underlined McLaren's early pace by finishing immediately behind his teammate Magnussen in fourth, with two-time world champion Fernando Alonso battling for fifth for Ferrari.

Bottas, who lost lost his right rear wheel in his earlier crash, was able to limp back to the pits for new tires and worked his way back again to claim three more points than Williams managed in the entire 2013 season.

Veteran Brazilian Massa may well have also been prominent, but was left fuming by Kobayashi's early antics which left both of them in the gravel.

Japan's Kobayashi immediately took to Twitter to apologize for "messing up" but Massa was calling for a "big penalty" over the incident.

Race officials later blamed the crash on a serious brake problem with the Caterham and said they would be taking no further action against the driver.

Read: F1's weird trip into the unknown

On a day when up and coming stars such as Ricciardo and Magnussen were able to challenge the established F1 order, a new record was set by Daniil Kvyat of Russia.

His 10th spot for Toro Rosso meant at 19 year, 10 months and 18 days he became youngest driver to claim points in a grand prix, a mark previously held by Vettel.

Other points were taken by Nico Hulkenberg for Force India in seventh, with Kimi Raikkonen crossing eighth in his Ferrari and Jean-Eric Vergne in ninth, just ahead of teammate Kvyat.

McLaren has the early lead in the constructors' title after the sterling performances of Magnussen and former world champion Button.

Despite his early exit, Vettel took comfort from the performance of Ricciardo after Red Bull's early season testing had been blighted by difficulties.

"Although we have started on the back foot we have learned an awful lot, and when the package comes together we will be competitive," said the 26-year-old.

Read: F1 legend Schumacher shows 'encouraging' signs

Hamilton knows his Mercedes is capable of racing at the front of the grid, but warned that all the teams were grappling with the big changes to the cars.

"This is a new era, this is what is happening. You can't expect us all to finish the race without a few problems," said the Briton after his retirement.

A total of 14 drivers out of 22 were officially classified in the race results, but all the teams will be working frantically before the second round of the championship in Malaysia in a fortnight.

Via: Rosberg wins F1 season opener

F1 driver numbers unveiled

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(CNN) -- He is Formula One's undisputed No. 1, and next season Sebastian Vettel will have proof of that fact emblazoned on his Red Bull but choosing a number was not so simple for the rest of his rivals on the grid.

Ahead of the 2014 campaign getting under way in March, each racer was invited to select the number they wanted to display on their car for the rest of their careers.

Four-time champion Vettel chose the No. 5 -- fitting as he chases a fifth successive drivers' championship -- to brand his car with but, as the reigning title holder, he will automatically run with the No. 1 on his Red Bull chassis.

The new regulation has been introduced by the sport's rulemakers to allow drivers to market themselves more effectively.

Vettel's Red Bull teammate Daniel Ricciardo will sport the No. 3 during his first season with the all-conquering marque, while 2013 runner up Fernando Alonso will race with the No. 14 on his Ferrari as a throwback to his karting days.

Kimi Raikkonen will mark his first season back at Ferrari with the No. 7 on his "Prancing Horse."

The Finn displayed his usual laidback attitude when it came to choosing his number, explaining on Ferrari's website:"It's the number I already had last year and I saw no reason to change it. I like it which is good enough isn't it?

McLaren's Jenson Button requested 22 as it was the number he had on his Brawn GP car when he was crowned world champion in 2009.

Habemus numerus...alo14 pic.twitter.com/CAr00BPjhB

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton has opted for 44; his teammate Nico Rosberg has taken the number six.

The 2014 season will begin with the curtain-raising Australian Grand Prix on March 16.

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Via: F1 driver numbers unveiled