A motorsport pioneer who passed away at a young age after a long struggle: this is the story of Maria de Villota, the “Star” of Carlos Sainz
Giving one’s life for motorsport: some have done it figuratively, fighting day and night for their dream on two or four wheels, and some have done it literally, leaving their soul forever on the asphalt of a track that can bring both enormous emotions and tragic disasters.
Maria de Villota, the beginning of a dream
A second-generation driver, with a father, Emilio de Villota, who was a Formula 1 driver in the 1970s and 1980s, Maria demonstrated a natural talent for driving from a young age, competing at high levels in the lower categories. Her ambition was clear: to represent women in Formula 1, aiming to become the first woman in the modern era to enter the Circus. Even Bernie Ecclestone strongly supported her, calling for a female presence in the premier category.
In March 2012, her dream began to materialize: Maria became a test driver for the Marussia F1 Team, a Formula 1 team that competed from 2010 to 2017. Her dream was almost within reach, but just a few months later, her ambition would lead her to face a tragic fate.
The accident that changed Maria’s life
July 3, 2012, Duxford Aerodrome.
At the end of her first setup lap, de Villota returned to her mechanics, but something went wrong, and the Spaniard collided with a team truck parked too close to her pit stop. The situation was immediately dramatic: ambulances and air rescue rushed to the scene, and she was taken to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.
Her condition was critical: the Marussia team announced the following day that de Villota had lost her right eye, in addition to suffering severe head and facial injuries. She emerged from a coma five days after the impact, making her first public appearance in October. In December, she returned to the hospital for a new cranial and ocular reconstruction surgery, which had a positive outcome.
Maria returned home with the strength and determination to keep fighting. Not on the track, though, as she was forced to announce the end of her career due to her injuries.
From there, her new battle began: Maria started a campaign to raise awareness about motorsport safety, carrying the message of her motto, “Life is a gift.” This also became the title of her book. The former driver traveled around Spain to present her writing, with the final stop in Seville.
The complications and her death
Seville, October 11, 2013.
For Maria, it was the day of her press conference in the capital of Andalusia. However, no conference was held that day. The detachment of her encephalic mass, caused by the previous year’s accident, proved fatal. Maria died in a hotel in Seville, leaving the entire Spanish nation in mourning.
After her death, the Maria de Villota Foundation was established, and she was posthumously awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Order of Sporting Merit. Her memory is kept alive in Formula 1, especially by Carlos Sainz. The Spanish driver continues to proudly carry a red star on his helmet, in both victories and defeats, to honor his young compatriot and friend, who passed away too soon.
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