Sebastian Vettel fended off pain to win the Singapore grand prix, a German daily claims.
Bild newspaper said the Red Bull driver’s shoulder became covered in blisters after the hot and bumpy practice sessions on the floodlit street circuit.
His physio Tommi taped up the affected area before the race: "It was pretty exhausting," said Vettel, 24.
The German’s only remaining championship contender Jenson Button also had a less than perfect preparation for the Singapore race, it has emerged this week.
British reports say a stomach bug befell the McLaren driver on Saturday night.
"I was a kilo and a half lighter than I normally am in the morning," he is quoted as saying by the BBC.
"So I (took medication), ate a lot of pasta because carbohydrates help you soak up liquid and drank a lot of special drinks from (McLaren doctor) Aki, his salty water drinks."
Whilst talking to the reporters, Button also sat with an ice-pack on his knee, revealed the Daily Telegraph.