I’ve had good use out of my Gravitas waterproof jacket, however it does need looking aftee like any other semi-permeable clothing. I’ve recently checked the price though, and they are now 10-20% more expensive than other, better options from premium brands like Enlightened Equipment, Outdoor Research and Z-packs, so I have no idea why you would buy one. The days of Alpkit being surprisingly good value at 60-70% of the likes of Rab etc are looooooooong gone

Daft not to run it in May as the weather improves and everyone is generally in a better mood.

It does feel a bit like desperation

Daft not to run it in May as the weather improves and everyone is generally in a better mood.

It does feel a bit like desperation

That could be very interesting!

It seems weird that they would leave such a successful team for one with such a patchy record, though

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68517911

BBC have picked up on it as well

Such a dysfunctional team right now. I was wondering if it was a power struggle between Marko and Christian Horner

Bearman makes it out of Q1

Verstappen looking very quick. Dammit

That would be a lovely way to start on Saturday!

1. Alonso is tge fastest in FP2, followed by Russell

The story has made the fornt page on the BBC News website again, you don’t normally see anything F1 related there unless Hamilton wins a championship

“This crap isn’t doing anyone any good & the employee being suspended is just another level of PR mishandling. It just looks terrible and if they keep this up, isn’t going to go away for a while.:”

I agree, in the absence of any details it does feel like chucking petrol at the fire

When I was working on a well known cooking competition tv show, one of the two presenters (who was married) whisked a runner, who was well under half his age, away for a dirty weekend. Guess which one stopped turning up for work

Classic

“Saudi Arabia this week, round 2 of the Red Bull/Verstappen/FIA shenanigans, I’m beginning to get bored with it all.”

I’m not….yet. I think maybe one more race, possibly two, and it might start to feel like a bit of a drag, although it’s also very possible that I’ll never get tired of watching Red Bull tear itself apart

It really feels like Alpine are in deep trouble. Are they going to make it the end of the season even? I hope so, it looks like they have been really hobbled by the engine freeze though

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68490578

Another engineer leaves Alpine

You can’t polish a turd, but you can stand it next to Jos Verstappen

“The scarcely believable irony in all of this is how it seems that Horner could in some ways be the only one to come out of this with any sort of dignity.”

I know, right?!

“The F Duct?”

I thought we were trying to change the subject

I think I remember hearing that there has been some friction previously with the Verstappens about not prioritising Max enough at Checo’s expense, so the above comments might be spot on

“If this were a play my guess would be that Jos, or someone he’s close to wants horner’s  job. “

Helmut Marko?

BBC News – Christian Horner: Jos Verstappen says controversy ‘driving team apart’

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68461379

Front page news on the BBC

Apparently there’s been a fall out between Horner and Helmut Marko, as well as between the Thai and Austrian owners of Red Bull. It will be interesting to know the details, once it is all done.

I think the only realistic chance of it being anyone other than Max disappearing over the horizon with the driver’s championship, is if Red Bull continue to very publicly tear itself apart

“F1 2024 season over by the first corner, thats a new record”

Yup

“Jos…. Words fail me.

The chaos will unfold if Horner GOES not if he stays.”

I’m assuming this is more about control than anything else? Looking at Jos’ history, he seems like the sort who would prioritise that over anything positive, like Red Bull (and by extension, his son) winning championships

“Well I had a good nod on the sofa with the sound on, so not that good a race”

To be fair, it was having a hungover snooze in front of the telly on a Sunday afternoon that got me into F1 in the first place

“Flippin eck, JK been on the pies?”

Jeremy Clarkson?

Sainz to Mercedes then?

“Coros watches are pretty well regarded too though, if you don’t want Garmin and it looks as though most of the models will display your location in OS format too.

https://support.coros.com/hc/en-us/articles/8634923171988-British-OSG-Support”

This was super useful, thanks! I’ve had my eye on a Coros Pace 2 because they only weigh 29 grams or something ridiculous. Relatively cheap, too!

Has anyone had any experience with Suunto or Coros? I’m trying to avoid Garmin if possible, my experience with them is that you are locked into using their Connect or Explore software for creating and exporting routes, and I find them pretty frustrating to use

“Hold down the gps button on my Instinct 2x and it gives a grid reference”

This is the sort of thing I need

“The guys who do snap a brake disk into bits while braking downhill usually pay more attention to their disks later on…”

Proof, if proof was needed, that the system works

“Wrist mounted, water resistant navigation you say?”

Perfect!

Thermarest XLite or XTherm , depending on temp, is still the best comfort, durability and warmth per gram.

Re deflating during the night, all mats go down a bit as the air inside cools, could it be that?

Thanks all! Not really hearing anything that will persuade me to get one tbh, was hoping for something that will let me keep my phone in my pocket, especially when it’s raining! But I’ve had Garmin stuff before, I find them frustrating, disappointing and hard to justify for the money, so ahm oot

Focus is on performance, not Horner – Verstappen – https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/68452371

Max is happy with Christian Horner ‘from the performance side of things’

Tbh I’d be happy with one that installs the OS Locate app, so I can use it to check my location on a paper map

“What do you mean works with os maps? Has them on screen?” 

Ideally, or ar least lets me plot a route and export it to the watch. If it’s going to have it’s own map, at lesst something that is useful with 6 figure grid refs so I can use it with a paper map

Ferrari within touching distance during qualifying at least