Maria de Villota loses right eye after test crash

As reported at JLF1, Maria de Villota was involved in a serious crash during a Marussia F1 straight line test at Duxford airfield.

(c) Marussia F1 Team

Maria underwent significant surgery to address serious head and facial injuries. However after emerging from the theatre it emerged that Maria has lost her right eye, meaning she may never race again.

Maria had been testing in her first test for the Marussia F1 team when the incident occurred. She was pulling into the temporary pit area when the car suddenly lurched forward and collided with a lorry at around 40 MPH. Her injuries were thought to be life threatening at first but after being taken to Addenbrookes Hospital it emerged she was in a critical but stable condition. She regained consciousness after arriving at the hospital.

She emerged from the theatre this morning where some of the UK's best surgeons operated on head and facial injuries. It was revealed that Maria had lost her right eye.

Team Principal John Booth said: "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. 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 I must report that, due to the injuries she sustained, Maria has lost her right eye."

Maria was participating in her 2nd F1 test after she drove a Lotus F1 car last year. She had gone through a number of junior formulas before joining Marussia

Maria's family flew to her bedside on the day of the accident. I really wish Maria a speedy recovery and my best wishes go out to her.

Maria's family issued an official statement, copy right MarussiaF1.com, saying “Maria remains in a critical but stable condition here at Addenbrooke’s Hospital. While there is no further news than that at present, we have at least been able to take encouragement from the fact that 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 and support 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.

With our sincere gratitude.”

Isabel De Villota
Representative of the De Villota Family & Maria’s Sister

There was another update posted on the Marussia website on Friday after Maria underwent further surgery:

"Earlier today, Maria underwent further surgery at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. This was a planned procedure that would depend upon the continued stability of Maria's head injuries, and this morning the medical team were sufficiently happy with her progress to allow the operation to go ahead."

"Earlier today, the surgeons successfully completed the next phase of surgery required to address Maria's facial injuries. After the lengthy initial procedure, which commenced on Tuesday and concluded on Wednesday, today's secondary operation took significantly less time.

"Since the operation today, Maria's condition in relation to the head trauma she received has further improved, to the extent that she is now 'serious but stable'.

"Whilst Maria remains acutely ill, this confirms that she has been responding well to the treatment she has received since her accident. Coupled with the significant progress that has been made with regard to her facial injuries, we feel sufficiently comfortable to proceed with a further update.

"On a more personal note, we have taken a great deal of encouragement from today's developments and the rather more positive signs for Maria's family."