De Villota ‘serious but stable’ condition

Maria de Villota has woken up in the hospital and talked to her family. The 32-year-old lost her right eye following a crash on Tuesday. She remains in a ‘serious but stable’ condition.

The incident occurred on Tueasday when Maria just finished a straight-line aerodynamic test test for Marussia F1. She pulled up in front of the mechanics and while Marussia’s mechanics approached to wheel the F1 car back for service. At this moment the car accelerated forwards and crashed into the stationary vehicle parked nearby. The front of the car was destroyed and that Maria’s helmet took the bulk of the impact. It was the first time that de Villota piloted the team’s 2012 car.

“It has been a tough weekend for everyone in the team, but we can be pleased with the job we have done here at Silverstone and also encouraged by the positive signs we are seeing with María,” Team Principal John Booth said after the British Grand Prix.

The exact cause of the accident at Duxford Airfield remains unknown.