Maria de Villota 1980 - 2013

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Formula 1 reserve racing driver Maria De Villota has been found dead in a hotel room in Seville, Spain.

No cause of death has yet been released for the 33-year-old Spaniard, who lost her right eye in a crash while testing for the Marussia team last year.

De Villota, daughter of former Formula 1 driver Emilio De Villota, suffered severe head and facial injuries after colliding with a lorry.

She was reported to have been in Seville to launch her autobiography.

F1 teams and drivers have expressed their shock at the news.

Caterham reserve Alexander Rossi, an occasional analyst for BBC Sport, said: "Absolutely stunned and heartbroken to hear Maria De Villota has passed away. My thoughts and prayers go out. We will never ever forget you."

Mercedes added: "Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Maria de Villota following the tragic news of her passing.

"Her courage, determination and hope were an example and inspiration to many. She will be sadly missed by our sport."

De Villota had previously competed in Spanish Formula 3 and the Daytona 24 Hours race.

Factfile

Born in Madrid on 13 January 1980 

A former World Touring Car Championship and Superleague Formula driver, she was the daughter of ex-Formula 1 racer Emilio de Villota 

She held a degree in sports science from the European University of Madrid 

Since 2001, she had competed in various Spanish races 

In 2010 she finished fourth at the Nurburgring in Superleague Formula 

Her first taste of F1 came in 2011 at the Paul Ricard circuit near Marseille in France, when she tested a Renault R29 

#RIP

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Marussia Claim Car Not at Fault in Duxford

Marussia says its car was not at fault for a crash which left test driver Maria de Villotta seriously injured.

The 32-year-old hit a support truck at Duxford airfield earlier this month while testing, having two operations in hospital and losing her right eye.

Marussia team principal John Booth said: "We are satisfied the findings of our internal investigation exclude the car as a factor in the accident."

The Spanish driver is reported to have made a "remarkable" recovery.

De Villota was injured on 3 July during a straight-line test at the Cambridgeshire airfield in which she was making her testing debut for Marussia and driving an F1 car for the fourth time in her career.

She sustained her injuries after her car "suddenly accelerated" into the back of the support lorry, according to witnesses.

Marussia says it carried out a detailed analysis of the accident, and an external forensic investigation was also conducted. The results have been passed on to the Health and Safety Executive.

"This has been a necessarily thorough process in order to understand the cause of the accident," said Booth.

"We have now concluded our investigatory work and can again focus on the priority, which continues to be Maria's wellbeing. In that regard, we continue to support Maria and the De Villota family in any way we can."

Marussia says its initial analysis after the crash had shown there were no faults with its cars ahead of that weekend's British Grand Prix.

"Having carefully examined all the data and supplementary information available at that time, the team were satisfied that there were no such car-related issues and cleared its chassis for race weekend participation," said a statement.

Maria de Villota

Born in Madrid on 13 January 1980

A former World Touring Car Championship and Superleague Formula driver, she is the daughter of ex-Formula 1 racer Emilio de Villota

Her first taste of F1 came at Paul Ricard in 2011, when she tested a Renault R29

Since 2001, she has competed in various Spanish motor races

In 2010 she finished fourth at the Nurburgring in Superleague Formula

She holds a degree in sports science from the European University of Madrid

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De Villota Family Comforted by Support

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The family of Maria de Villota have said they are "taking comfort" from the support being shown to the F1 test driver.

De Villota, 32, lost her right eye after extensive surgery following a test track crash at Duxford airfield in Cambridgeshire on Tuesday.

In a statement, the family said they "remain positive due to the support for Maria from every corner of the world".

The driver remains in a critical but stable condition at Addenbrookes.

De Villota was hurt when the MR-01 race car she was driving hit a support truck.

She had been driving at up to 200mph but the car was travelling considerably slower at the time of the crash.

It was the first time the Spaniard had driven the car for the Oxfordshire-based Marussia team.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Isabel De Villota, Maria's sister, said: "While there is no further news at present, we have at least been able to take encouragement from the fact Maria has remained stable throughout since the accident, particularly during the first night following such a lengthy surgical procedure as she experienced yesterday.

"We, the family, are supporting each other here at Maria's side and we take great comfort from the remarkable medical care she has been receiving.

"We remain positive and this is due, in no small part, to the overwhelming expression of love for Maria from every corner of the world.

"We would also wish to thank everyone at the Marussia F1 Team for all the care and attention they have shown us over the past few days."

Messages of support for De Villota have come in from the motor racing world, including Ferrari driver and fellow Spaniard Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton.

Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) visited the test track on Wednesday.

Alonso Shocked by de Villota Accident

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Ferrari's Fernando Alonso has said he was "completely shocked" by the accident in which Marussia test driver Maria de Villota lost her right eye.

De Villota, 32, is in "critical but stable" condition in hospital after crashing into a lorry at a test on Tuesday.

Marussia have not revealed the cause of the accident.

"Obviously we are all very worried about the situation and are waiting for more news," Alonso said.

"We don't know the situation but it is difficult to imagine how this can happen."

Alonso, the world championship leader, is Spanish, like De Villota, and revealed earlier this week that he had spoken to her family during the aftermath of the crash.

Marussia announced on Wednesday that De Villota had an overnight operation on Tuesday to repair a fractured skull.

There has so far been no further update on her condition.

Alonso said: "We only know what you all know and there are some difficult days until we know the situation."

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton added: "I don't know her personally but when I read about it I was absolutely devastated for her and her family, absolutely tragic. The team and I send our wishes to her and hope she has a speedy recovery."

Felipe Massa has drawn upon his own experience of being involved in a Formula 1 accident to offer support for de Villota.

The Ferrari driver was injured during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix three years ago, when a spring broke loose from the car of compatriot Rubens Barrichello and struck him on the helmet.

"She has my full support because I've been in a similar position. Thank God nothing happened to me," said the Brazilian.

"I really hope everything will be OK for her and for her to live her life in the way she deserves. It's difficult to know what happened because we don't know yet. I read it happened at an airfield and she hit a truck, this is not normal to have this kind of accident in Formula 1.

"My accident happened on track so it's different. The most important thing is that the FIA understands what happened. We need to make it the maximum safe we can. She has all my positive thoughts that everything will be OK."

De Villota failed to stop in the makeshift pit at a straight-line test at a Cambridgeshire airfield and hit the tailgate of a lorry that had been left in the down position.

The team say they are conducting an investigation into what happened and will reveal more information at a later date.

Driver de Villota in Stable Condition

Marussia test driver Maria De Villota has lost her right eye due to injuries sustained in Tuesday's testing accident at Duxford Airfield.

The 32-year-old remains in a critical but stable condition after having lengthy surgery "to address serious head and facial injuries sustained in the accident. The operation began yesterday afternoon and she was in theatre until this morning," the team confirmed in a statement.

Team Principal John Booth praised the professionalism of the emergency services who responded to the incident and has promised a full investigation into the cause of the accident.

"Maria emerged from theatre at Addenbrooke's Hospital this morning after a lengthy operation to address the serious head and facial injuries she received in the accident at Duxford Airfield yesterday," Booth said.

"We are grateful for the medical attention that Maria has been receiving and her family would like to thank the Neurological and Plastics surgical teams. However it is with great sadness that I must report that, due to the injuries she sustained, Maria has lost her right eye.

"Maria's care and the wellbeing of her family remain our priority at this time. Her family are at the hospital and we are doing everything possible to support them.

"We ask for everyone's patience and understanding with regard to updates on Maria's condition. We will provide further information when it is appropriate to do so and with consideration for her family.

"In the meantime, we would all like to take this opportunity to praise the emergency services at Duxford Airfield, who were on stand-by yesterday, as is usual procedure for a Formula One test.

"With regard to the accident, we have embarked on a very comprehensive analysis of what happened and this work continues for the moment.

"Finally, we have been overwhelmed by messages of support for Maria, her family and the Team and we would like to express our sincere gratitude for those."

De Villota Suffers Injury After Crash

Maria De Villota is conscious and an assessment of her condition is ongoing, a statement released by Marussia said on Tuesday afternoon.

De Villota had earlier been admitted to hospital with what were described as "life-threatening" injuries after an accident during a straightline test at Duxford Airfield in Cambridgeshire.

Having completing an installation run at the airfield, the 32-year-old Spaniard returned to a makeshift pit area where her car collided with a team transporter.

After treatment by trackside paramedics, De Villota was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge where it is understood she has been receiving treatment for head and face injuries.

The latest Marussia team statement read: "The team can confirm Maria was transferred by ambulance from Duxford Airfield, where the accident happened, to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

"Since Maria's arrival at the hospital at approximately 10.45hrs this morning, she has been receiving the best medical attention possible at the hospital, which is the region's major trauma centre.

"Maria is conscious and medical assessments are ongoing. The team will await the outcome of these assessments before providing further comment.

"The team's first priority at this time is Maria and her family."

An early theory behind the accident is that the anti-stall mechanism on the car kicked in, propelling De Villota into the truck at around 20-30mph.

It is understood the tailgate had been lowered at the time, and at such a height as to cause a head trauma.

With emergency services already at the scene, De Villota was attended to quickly by fire crews and paramedics.

Although it is believed she was unconscious for around 15 to 20 minutes, it is also understood that De Villota regained consciousness and was talking prior to her transfer to hospital.

A statement from the East of England Ambulance Service, who attended the scene, confirmed receiving an emergency call at 9.17am prior to despatching a crew to Duxford.

Spokesman Gary Sanderson later stated the service had treated a woman who had "sustained life-threatening injuries".

Air ambulance charity Magpas were also on hand to assist, with Dr Darren Reid and volunteer paramedic Dave Mee in attendance.

A statement read: "The Magpas team were called to Duxford Airfield and arrived at 10:20 this morning after a Formula One car collided (at slow speed) with a lorry tail lift.

"The Helimedix assessed the patient, who suffered facial and head injuries, and administered pain relief as they worked alongside an EEAST ambulance crew who were also at the scene."

The test was the first De Villota, whose father Emilio raced in Formula 1, had undertaken for Marussia having been named as a test driver before the start of the season.

She had previously tested a Renault F1 car as well as competing in Spanish F3, the Daytona 24 Hours and the Superleague Formula. However, De Villota does not have the FIA 'Superlicence' required to take part in F1 races.

Marussia had been hoping to use the session - one of a number of straightline tests teams are allowed each season - to evaluate upgrades ahead of this weekend's British Grand Prix.