Oscar Piastri drops major rib injury bombshell amid ongoing F1 summer break

Oscar Piastri, the young McLaren sensation, recently revealed that he has been battling with a broken rib since the British Grand Prix. The 22-year-old Australian disclosed his injury through an ultrasound image on his Instagram account. The snapshot is from July 8, just a day after competing at Silverstone. The scan revealed a fracture to his sixth rib, which likely occurred during the high-stakes weekend.

Despite this significant setback, Piastri has shown remarkable resilience, continuing to race and even securing his first-ever Grand Prix victory in Hungary. This win, initially perceived as a result of team orders favouring him over his teammate Lando Norris, now takes on a new meaning in light of his injury.

Here is Oscar Piastri’s post:

First part of the season done.

First GP victory.

First broken bone.

Rib’s enjoying the break 💪 pic.twitter.com/xee5myxNTP

— Oscar Piastri (@OscarPiastri) August 11, 2024

"First part of the season done. First GP victory. First broken bone. Rib’s enjoying the break," Piastri posted. His triumph under such difficult circumstances has drawn comparisons to other instances of driver resilience, such as Carlos Sainz’s victory after recovering from appendicitis and Daniel Ricciardo's comeback following a hand injury.

Mark Webber’s expectations from Oscar Piastri

Meanwhile, Oscar Piastri’s manager, former Red Bull driver Mark Webber, has been vocal about his high expectations for the young talent. "It’s been enjoyable working closely with him. He’s a very special talent. He knows what’s right for the future, to continue to unleash that talent," Webber commented.

He emphasized the challenges that come with racing in today’s highly competitive environment, where the smallest margins can make a significant difference. "There’s not many guys that have won at that level, especially with just how sensitive the cars are now and how tight the times are," Webber added, underscoring Piastri’s exceptional ability to consistently perform under pressure.

As an Australian, Webber also reflected on the nation's deep-rooted passion for Formula 1, tracing it back to the legendary Jack Brabham, who paved the way for future Aussie racers. "Jack Brabham was the original; he showed us the way in, and in more ways than one," Webber noted.