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From GMM
Maria de Villota, who lost an eye after a near-fatal F1 testing crash last year, died early on Friday.
The 33-year-old Spaniard was found dead in a hotel room in Seville, where she was to give a lecture, Cadena Ser radio reported.
Marca sports newspaper said de Villota's family, led by former F1 driver Emilio de Villota, confirmed the death but did not yet know the cause.
"Dear friends: Maria has left us.
She had to go to heaven like all angels. We are thankful to God for the extra year and a half that he left her with us," read the statement of her family.
Spanish F1 driver Fernando Alonso said after Friday practice in Japan: "I just took my helmet off and (manager) Luis (Garcia Abad) told me.
"I can only pray for her and all her family," Alonso is quoted by El Pais newspaper.
De Villota sustained serious head and facial injuries in July last year when the Marussia she was testing at Duxford, UK, inexplicably drove into the loading ramp of a truck.
UPDATE
Maria de Villota was in the Spanish city to give a presentation ahead of the launch of her autobiography, 'La vida es un regalo' (Life is a gift), and according to reports had appeared in perfect health on Monday.
Spanish motor racing president Carlos Gracia, who said de Villota had sent him an email at about midnight on Monday, told Marca newspaper: "All I know for now is that her personal assistant, Arancha, came into the room and could not wake her.
"She was already dead. Apparently it was a natural death, but we know nothing," he added.
Manuel Franco, the F1 correspondent for the sports newspaper AS, added: "There were no drugs found or any signs of violence, so she is likely to have died of natural causes."
Spanish television Antena 3, who said de Villota has suffered from migraines since recovering from the near-fatal 2012 crash, revealed there will be an autopsy.
Maria de Villota, who lost an eye after a near-fatal F1 testing crash last year, died early on Friday.
The 33-year-old Spaniard was found dead in a hotel room in Seville, where she was to give a lecture, Cadena Ser radio reported.
Marca sports newspaper said de Villota's family, led by former F1 driver Emilio de Villota, confirmed the death but did not yet know the cause.
"Dear friends: Maria has left us.
She had to go to heaven like all angels. We are thankful to God for the extra year and a half that he left her with us," read the statement of her family.
 |
| Maria de Villota. (Photo: Marussia F1 Team) |
Spanish F1 driver Fernando Alonso said after Friday practice in Japan: "I just took my helmet off and (manager) Luis (Garcia Abad) told me.
"I can only pray for her and all her family," Alonso is quoted by El Pais newspaper.
De Villota sustained serious head and facial injuries in July last year when the Marussia she was testing at Duxford, UK, inexplicably drove into the loading ramp of a truck.
UPDATE
Maria de Villota was in the Spanish city to give a presentation ahead of the launch of her autobiography, 'La vida es un regalo' (Life is a gift), and according to reports had appeared in perfect health on Monday.
Spanish motor racing president Carlos Gracia, who said de Villota had sent him an email at about midnight on Monday, told Marca newspaper: "All I know for now is that her personal assistant, Arancha, came into the room and could not wake her.
"She was already dead. Apparently it was a natural death, but we know nothing," he added.
Manuel Franco, the F1 correspondent for the sports newspaper AS, added: "There were no drugs found or any signs of violence, so she is likely to have died of natural causes."
Spanish television Antena 3, who said de Villota has suffered from migraines since recovering from the near-fatal 2012 crash, revealed there will be an autopsy.