Thread: Maria De Villota Seriously Injured in testing crash

I believe that the forum hasn't been working over the last few days, so it's normal that no one said anything about this. Anyway, I'll stick to what Joe Saward said:

For the time being F1 should not be making any snap decisions. The sport should take a look at what happened and then decide whether that warrants any action.

Don't be too surprised that nobody has mentioned the incident , as I , and presumably everyone else , has been having trouble accessing the forum for the last few days .

Some reports I've read have said it may have been an issue with the anti-stall electronics revving the car without warning , so this knid of issue might have happened anywhere .
The discussion , I believe , will be more about the safety at private tests , rather than specifically about canopies .

I noticed a derisive comment about the team leaving the truck's lift-gate out from Joe Saward , but who could have known that a car suddenly sliding under it would be an issue with which they'd have to deal ?

I hope she's ok , and that she can soon get back in the car . This has the potential to set the girls with F1 ambition back a few decades in terms of public opinion .

Originally Posted by Norwegian Blue

BBC News - F1 Marussia driver Maria de Villota in Duxford crash

I'm surprised nobody has brought this up already.... it seems like her condition is improving thankfully.
I wonder what impact this could have on formula one... especially the discussion on Canopies etc.

I was watching some random news on CNN today when suddenly the scrolling news ticker below said that an F1 driver was seriously injured. I was surprised because I thought that Formula 1 tests are allowed only on specified days. I hope that she gets well. I pray for her. Let's hope that Formula 1 community learns important lessons from this crash and uses the knowledge to make the sport (including testing) safer for everyone involved.

Originally Posted by Bagwan

The discussion , I believe , will be more about the safety at private tests , rather than specifically about canopies .

Correct. Hopefully we don't need a knee-jerk reaction.

Originally Posted by Bagwan

I noticed a derisive comment about the team leaving the truck's lift-gate out from Joe Saward , but who could have known that a car suddenly sliding under it would be an issue with which they'd have to deal ?

The awnings were set up next to the support trucks and if anyone has experience or even noticed lazy delivery men that the tail lifts are used as a step. In that instance you're asking for some of trouble.

Originally Posted by wedge

Correct. Hopefully we don't need a knee-jerk reaction.



The awnings were set up next to the support trucks and if anyone has experience or even noticed lazy delivery men that the tail lifts are used as a step. In that instance you're asking for some of trouble.

Perhaps the location of the trucks should be an issue , but , if it's the same as here in Canada , with the lift up , it wouldn't have been much better , as the trucks are equipped with structures meant to stop road cars going under , at about the same height as a half lift on the tail .

Originally Posted by Norwegian Blue

BBC News - F1 Marussia driver Maria de Villota in Duxford crash

I'm surprised nobody has brought this up already.... it seems like her condition is improving thankfully.
I wonder what impact this could have on formula one... especially the discussion on Canopies etc.

Would be easier to not leave a truck with the load hoist down and at cockpit height anywhere near where the car was due to run than fit all racing cars with canopies....???

Sadly, the news could be better;

Maria de Villota loses right eye in accident, remains in critical but stable condition - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com

It's terrible to hear that, SGWilko... that's end of the line for her, I believe. I don't think she was anywhere near a great driver, but still, losing an eye? That's disastrous...

I would really like to know now what exactly happened.
Was it a car failure or a driver error?
Either way, it is sad news.

Originally Posted by Bagwan

Some reports I've read have said it may have been an issue with the anti-stall electronics revving the car without warning.

Possibly, it would take a catastrophic failure of the anti-stall mechanism as the clutch automatically engages the when it is activated.
Get well soon Maria!

Originally Posted by truefan72

I would really like to know now what exactly happened.
Was it a car failure or a driver error?
Either way, it is sad news.

We are just going to have to wait and see. I'm more interested in Villota's condition. It's been 24 hours and no one (that I can find) has released the exact nature of her injuries. A report out of Spain was that she was having an operation to relieve pressure on her brain, but I don't have a source for that assertion!

The best news is that she's out of surgery and stable , Taz . That much is good .

I think we can expect some delay as to how well she is recovering now , as they'll have her well sedated , waiting for some of the inevitable swelling to subside .

She's in good hands , by all accounts I've read .

Originally Posted by Bagwan

The best news is that she's out of surgery and stable , Taz . That much is good .

I think we can expect some delay as to how well she is recovering now , as they'll have her well sedated , waiting for some of the inevitable swelling to subside .

She's in good hands , by all accounts I've read .

Sucks bro!!

LONDON -- Formula One test driver Maria de Villota has lost her right eye after a crash in testing for the Marussia team.

Maria de Villota Loses Eye: Marussia F1 Test Driver In Critical But Stable Condition After Crash

It looks like a freak accident and without knowing the full facts, it would be wrong to lay blame. However, I did not hear it was an electronics problem but may have been a error but that's not confirmed. I have seen a picture and the tail lift hit the roolover / head support.

Best wishes to her and hope for the best.

This is terrible news.

Can't believe this could happen. In what i assume was a straight line test. It would be very unlikely to have a lorry anywhere near the main line of fire so it must have been a lower speed mistake or problem.

Thoughts are with her.

Thankfully Maria is alive. We all wish her the best for her, and pray for her speedy recovery, but losing an eye pretty much ends her racing career.
The length of time she was apparently unconcious is also troubleing, but hopefully she will have no neurological issues related to that.

Apparently, she had pulled into the temporary 'pits' after making a straight line 'installation' run and was stopping, or did stop, to converse with the crew when the car suddenly accelerated. There were a lot of people around so Maria likely had few options are far as where she could steer the car as it accelerated towards the rear of the truck. It appeared from what still photos I have seen that the car went pretty much straight at the rear of the truck.

Had there been a canopy on the car, the outcome would no doubt have been different, but it's also quite possible a deformable canopy would have still caused injuries. It's possible a canopy could have contributed to fatal injuries. Since there was no canopy, how it may have helped, or hindered, in the incident is just speculation.
A damaged canopy may have made it more difficult to render aid as immediately to Maria as not having a canopy.

Again, there is lots of speculation going around.

I understand that the Lorry was nowhere near where Maria should have been pulling in. It's true that the car did suddenly accelerate but this is normal as she was doing about 3.2k in 2and and the idle is 4.6k. Why she was in 2nd and not first is something that Maria will know as is why she didn't engage the clutch.

The full facts haven't come out yet so speculating is foolish but it is unfair to blame the Lorry Driver or the car at this stage with no substance whatsoever or basis in fact.

Originally Posted by Knock-on

I have seen a picture and the tail lift hit the roolover / head support.

Unfortunately the ramp penetrated her visor which explains why she has extensive facial injuries. Very unfortunate that the ramp was left at that level.

A horrible accident, and one that sounds like a mechanical problem rather than human error. Hope she recovers well but at least she is in good hands at Addenbrookes.

Assuming her eye is the only functional loss she has, we may well see her back behind the wheel in the future. I hope she can bounce back.

Originally Posted by Knock-on

I understand that the Lorry was nowhere near where Maria should have been pulling in.

?

Its pretty clear from the photographs that the lorry was parked next to the marquee that formed the makeshift pits where she pulled in. This is not to criticise the decision to park it there, after all even with the truck parked there the 'pit' area is far more spacious than could be found at any track anywhere.

I do wonder if she made an attempt to steer away from the marquee to avoid hitting people resulting in her hitting the truck.