F1 star reveals he drove with 'serious injury' for 'at least' three races after x-ray result kept under wraps

One of the most exciting Formula One drivers on the grid has revealed that he competed in three races despite having a broken rib and what it was that caused the injury.

Formula One returns this weekend, as the Dutch Grand Prix takes place at the Circuit Zandvoort on Sunday.

The race will be the first to take place in five weeks as the sport has been on the summer break following Lewis Hamilton's 103rd career race win in Belgium Grand Prix following the disqualification of teammate George Russell.

And speaking ahead of the race, one of the most in-form drivers in the sport has revealed that he has recently been competing with a broken rib that was caused by his Formula One car.

After competing at the Belgian Grand Prix, Oscar Piastri revealed that he had been suffering from a broken rib for at least three races, including his first-ever career win in the Hungary a week before.

And now, the Australian driver has finally spoken out about what it was that caused the injury, suspecting that his seat was responsible.

Speaking in the paddock ahead of this weekend's race, he said: “You could say we put so much downforce on the car, but no, it was just from driving.

"You make the seat, obviously, at the start of the year and sometimes you get it a little bit wrong. Some tracks don't expose it, but I think going from Barcelona, Austria, Silverstone, three pretty hardcore tracks [did expose it].

“So it was just a bit of a pressure point which eventually gave up. But it's all good again now and we've changed a seat and fixed it immediately pretty much. So yeah, all back to normal.”

Oscar Piastri is currently fourth in the diver's standings, with 167 points. (Image: Getty

The McLaren driver also revealed that he first learned about the injury the day after the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, but suspects that the injury happened before then.

"I think it was probably a bit disturbed in Barcelona, and then with Austria afterwards it was pretty painful, so it was pretty nasty for a few days. But we made some changes and it was already getting better even with driving, so it's all good," he added.