De Villota died following the after-effects of her accident

Maria de Villota only survived a year after her serious accident during an aero test session with Marussia F1 Team. The daughter of former F1 driver Emilio de Villota, who notably lost an eye in his accident, had found an active life since she was present in Seville to promote her book. Her assistant found her lifeless yesterday morning in her hotel room.

Natural death was quickly favored since no traces of drugs or violence were noted. After the autopsy revealed that the cause of death was a heart attack following a cerebral hemorrhage, Maria de Villota's family confirmed that the after-effects of the accident were indeed the cause of her death. “Maria left while sleeping, around 6 a.m., following her neurological injuries sustained in July 2012, according to the medical examiner’s report. She left a very clear message of joy and hope, which helps the family move forward during these difficult times. » Maria de Villota will be buried in Madrid.