China ban silences F1 tweets

Posted on 14/04/2010

F1's new obsession with Twitter might have to take a back-seat role in Shanghai this weekend because of the Chinese government’s blocking of many aspects of social media in a bid to stifle dissent.

Many teams, drivers and managers have been using Twitter this season but they face difficulties over the coming weekend. However, it seems there are ways to dodge the authorities’ block on Twitter.

Having expressing dismay at the ban, HRT driver Karun Chandhok was greeted at Shanghai airport this week by three "very sweet fans" who told him the tricks. Also on Wednesday, McLaren, Mike Gascoyne, Mark Webber, Heikki Kovalainen and several journalists have been Tweeting from Shanghai.

It is not clear if or how China's estimated 30,000 internet police will react to the violations of the internet censorship laws. The operator of Virgin's official Twitter account said: "We'll probably just go low-key for China and then look at a proper solution for next year."