[hedgie]

I suspect that by any other standards the engineering of an F1 car is probably as good as anything else, including aviaition. Painting would just be a last ditch attempt when all else has failed. Would wire wrapping components be practical? I understood that wire wrapping was usually done to stop nuts coming off not to retain components, but I suppose it could be done.

On the NHRA top fuel dragsters they simply expect supercharger and engine explosions so they wrap the supercharger in a kevlar blanket to contain the inevitable shrapnel.

I think that's the difference, NHRA consider supercharger failures inevitable, by any other standards the current generation of F1 cars have been the most reliable I can remember in almost 30 years of watching the sport. F1 is the pinnacle of engineering but it is a sport and regrettably accidents and failures will happen.

Remember when the Ferrari exhaust was loose for ages then fell off. I suspect if that happens at Valencia there will be an instant black flag.

Lets all hope that this does not happen again and that Philippe makes a swift recovery.