It is not the time to get into disputes about the rights and wrongs of whether or not Maria de Villota should be in a Formula 1 car; nor the larger question of whether women can drive F1 cars. Nor, for that matter, is it wise to try to speculate as to what happened at Duxford. The answers will exist in the software. At the moment, fans of F1 should really spare a thought for de Villota and her family. She was pursuing her dream and she has suffered a serious injury as a result of that. As human beings we should salute the fact that she tried and we should be sad that she has been hurt.
As you will have read elsewhere she underwent lengthy surgery during the night of Tuesday-Wednesday at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. This is a hospital with a celebrated tradition of top neurosurgeons and, despite the best efforts of those involved, they were unable to save her right eye. She is listed as being in a critical but stable conditions. There is not much else that can be said as to try to reach any more conclusions more would simply be guesswork and the last thing that is needed right now is endless speculation. We will find out what happened after everything has been properly looked at. We will discover the full extent of her injuries when the surgeons are able to reach conclusions.
“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,” said John Booth, the Marussia Racing team principal. “Maria’s care and the wellbeing of her family remain our priority at this time. Her family are at the hospital and we are doing everything possible to support them. We ask for everyone’s patience and understanding with regard to updates on Maria’s condition. We will provide further information when it is appropriate to do so and with consideration for her family. In the meantime, we would all like to take this opportunity to praise the emergency services at Duxford Airfield, who were on stand-by yesterday, as is usual procedure for a Formula 1 test.”
Booth said that the team has embarked on “a very comprehensive analysis of what happened” and that this process is still ongoing.
I totally agree Joe. The rights and wrongs of the accident are irrelevant at this time. I’m sure lessons will be learned from this, but at the moment everyones thoughts should be with Maria and her family. Its a desperately sad outcome, but I hope Maria pulls through and is able to come to terms with her injuries and continue a normal life.
This has been on my mind all day. Having been an F1 fan for some 55 years, many bad things have happened. But a woman the same age as my daughter, pursuing her dream, so injured, leaves me so absolutely filled with sadness.
Our thoughts and well wishes are with Ms. Maria de Villota, and her family.
Well, I suppose the only positive thing is she is still alive and has only lost the sight in one eye. What a tragic accident
Fia should investigate this to learn from it as well as the helmet manufacturers, I know it was a freak accident but the impact to the head is still the number one area of extreme vulnerability in F1/ open cockpit cars.
An absolute tragedy, and my thoughts go out to her, and her family at this time.
Maria de Villota’s accident reminds us that F1 is a dangerous sport, in essence. The fact that it occured during in season testing simply goes to prove that no matter what safety provisions you put in place, the human body is always going to be the most fragile thing when it’s involved in an accident at 200mph.
What’s important to remember is that this is an accident that, although still unexplained, is more likely than not the result of a mechanical failure. Maris isn’t some complete novice who just happened to have money – she is an experienced racing driver, the daughter of a former Formula 1 driver, and whose brother is also a racer. So this is not someone out for a Sunday drive – she’s been involved in motorsport pretty much her whole life.
It reminds me of the death of Roland Ratzenberger. Like Maria, he’d been trying his whole life and finally was within touching distance of his goal. Alas, we never saw what he was capable of, and I doubt we will see what Maria could have done.
This accident may have ended the career of someone whose talent was yet to truly shine. For her, and for Formula One, and for all who love the sport, this horrific accident is compounded by the fact that we may now never know what she might have achieved.
An absolute tragedy, and my thoughts go out to her, and her family at this time.
Maria de Villota’s accident reminds us that, in essence, F1 is still a dangerous sport. The fact that it occured during in season testing simply goes to prove that no matter what safety provisions you put in place, the human body is always going to be the most fragile part of the equation when it’s involved in an accident at 200mph.
What’s important to remember is that this is an accident that, although still unexplained, is more likely than not the result of a mechanical failure. Maria is not some complete novice who just happened to have money – she is an experienced racing driver, the daughter of a former Formula 1 driver, and whose brother is also a racer. So this is not someone out for a Sunday drive – I would surmise she’s been involved in motorsport in some way for pretty much her whole life.
It reminds me of the sad death of Roland Ratzenberger. Like Maria, he’d been trying his whole life and finally was within touching distance of his goal. Alas, we never saw what he was capable of, and I doubt we will see what Maria could have done.
This accident may have ended the career of someone whose talent was yet to truly shine. For her, and for Formula One, and for all who love the sport, this horrific accident is compounded by the fact that we may now never know what she might have achieved. /edit: A couple of typos corrected
I have mixed feelings of sadness and satisfaction for Maria. Sadness that she has been terribly injured and it seems will have a long period of recovery ahead, along with a level of satisfaction.
Many, many youngsters sit with eyes glued to television screens following F1. They are fascinated by the spectacle, enthralled by the mastery of such machines by so few people and yearn to be amongst those entrusted with charge of such sophisticated and wildly difficult vehicles.
Maria was assisted in her quest by her closeness to such experience, yet that alone doesn’t bring her to achieve the goal so closely held by so many, yet granted to so few.
In so doing, all of those few accept that theirs is an environment unforgiving of reputation, skill or value. An environment that places all those who are part of it at great risk on each and every occasion. To be amongst those people, however briefly, is something I greatly admire.
Get well soon Maria.
Positively joyful Maria is still with us. A courageous and strong woman in the pursuit of her dream and I believe these attributes served her well in her recent lengthy surgery.
http://www.marussiaf1team.com/news/600/maria-madrilena is a poignant read with touching photos
As usual Joe, you have cut right to the heart of the matter. Let the debate about whether someone should or should not be in the car for later. Let’s all come together now and hope that Maria and her family are able to move on and heal.
I agree with what you have said and the commentors above I was just at HP and the comments are just of the stupid people that live in my country Amerika. I hope for the best for this young person that tried to reach for her dream. Only tears now:(
Sorry Joe, but if it’s “not the right time” to be raising things, then it seems unwise to put them in the first sentence. Especially if they are as potentially offensive as one of those “questions”.
Yes that opening sentence said a lot. I wad reminded of Tony Blair’s “Now is not the time for soundbites. We are standing on the shoulders of history”. I guess we know where Mr S stands on the question of whether one can drive a car with or without possession of testicles.
No you do not. Read what I wrote again and think about it.
Been reading this blog for a long time? If you have you’ll know you are wrong. If you haven’t why even ask the question?
You know not of what you speak. Joe is as fair-minded a person (more-so, even) than anyone I’ve read on the internet (or otherwise). And you really undercut your argument when you bring a totally off-base political comment into the discussion. Can’t seem to let go, can ya?
Talk about a misquote. Why don’t you look it up before you get all excited with your keyboard?
Mon Pen, your memory is as lax as your undersatnding. What Blair said was: “A day like today is not a day for soundbites, really. But I feel the hand of history upon our shoulders.”
One of the worst news I’ve recently heard, very sad.
El Pais offer a reproduction of the accident – http://ep01.epimg.net/elpais/imagenes/2012/07/04/media/1341411614_342193_1341411625_noticia_normal.png
Scary. And yet, as with the Massa incident, I find myself astounded by how strong the modern helmets are.
Wow, if that is right, lucky not to be decapitated or scalped.
I have to ask how could that happen? I guess we’ll have to wait.
“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”
Teddy Roosevelt
What a wonderful quote!
Well said!
Perfect quote. Very appropriate. People are quick to jump to conclusions and like to air their views but I feel this was a shocking accident and at the moment we should all just be sending our best wishes for Maria’s recovery.
Deeply tragic.
This should not have been able to happen in modern day F1, the fact it did will hopefully ensure after investigation protocols protecting drivers even further. Something positive will be taken from this in the meantime Maria in Alonso’s words ‘feel the energy’ and good will from F1 fans worldwide pulling for you.
It is a terribly sad accident and I wish Maria all the best. Such a shame that someone with such talent and a woman who was given the chance to cut it with the best will be lost to the sport.
Please correct me if I’m wrong and don’t think me insensitive but does the accident call in to question Marussia’s participation this weekend? Not so much because the accident will have caused distress to the team and mechanics especially but because there may be insufficient time to analyse the data before FP1 tomorrow?
Are the other drivers at risk of an accident? Even with all of the technical data without actually speaking to Maria and her own experience before the accident surely all the facts cannot be known.
Given the number of sensors on the cars, if you want the facts you’re probably better off not talking to the driver at all. Telemetry should tell the team whether what the controls were doing and what the engine was doing and why and how. Should.
Absolutely, Joe. What looks like a bizarre accident, which there will be lessons to be learned from, and nasty injuries to someone who was following her dream. Thoughts are with de Villota, her family and friends, and the Marussia team.
Of course an accident, and such tragic injuries, will lead to a call by some of the media for further head protection, despite the fact that this is an accident that will very likely never happen again.
What happened? We don’t know, and won’t for a while, if at all. Was Maria competetant enough to drive? Well, she’s got plenty of experience in racing, and let’s not forget Renault let a TV presenter drive one of their cars around Silverstone a few years back…
Maria was persuing her dream, and I find it deeply tragic that this was her first time in the Marussia, and she had been looking so forward to it, according to the releases earlier in the week. Yet despite her injury, I am grateful that at least she is still with us. It could have been so much worse.
Sure our thouhts must be with her right now (they are) and there will be answers in the right time, but one can´t stop wonder about why this hapenned and think how right is the FIA when they try to develop front head protection for the drivers.
While part of me thinks that F1 would lose something of it’s identity if it became an enclosed-cockpit formula, I do wonder whether my (currently hypothetical) children’s generation will look back at open-cockpit racing with the same awe and disgust with which our generation regards leather helmets.
Terribly sad news, hoping Maria has a quick recovery with the best possible outcome..
Joe,
Thanks for your balanced and compassionate reporting on this terrible accident. In an age when sensationalist journalism seems to trump all others your reporting is as always more focused on ‘fact’ than ‘fast’.
It has been quit upsetting to read some of the highly speculative comments reported as ‘fact’ elsewhere, in what can only be described as tasteless ‘click baiting’
Maria was chasing her dream, if only we were all as brave and as committed as her……… My thoughts and best wishes to her and her family
Mike
Tragic news. All hope for a comprehensive recovery.
i agree that it’s pointless to speculate about the how and why.
devastating and sad accident for maria.
“It is not the time to get into disputes about the rights and wrongs of whether or not Maria de Villota should be in a Formula 1 car; nor the larger question of whether women can drive F1 cars.”
You’ve raised these points before, and I agree with what you are implying. The female body probably isn’t equipped to deal with the stress of cornering, braking and accelerating in F1.
I am not implying anything of the sort. These are questions that people will discuss. I dod not believe that for a moment.
Why would a female body be any different? There are women powerlifters right? Female astronauts and FIGHTER PILOTS! Are you being totally serious with this comment?
While I disagree with Olli’s sentiments it’s interesting to see I wasn’t the only person to misinterpret that opening line. I’m really not sure of the thinking behind it if it wasn’t intended to mean how I read it. As someone who spends his professional life trawling over legal-ese it is, to me, otherwise otiose.
Hmm… did you read the rest of this post? If you had read the PREVIOUS post Joe had written you would see that many people began to contemplate and talk about the very subjects Joe is dismissing in the first statement of THIS article. As a warning, so clowns like Ollie don’t go off on that tangent AGAIN. This is all very simple. Quit trying to be a lawyer.
Again… Joe was very clearly saying that now is not the time for such things. How you interpret that is YOUR problem… not Joe’s. He said that was not his intent… so you can take him at his word.
I assumed it was to be read completely straight. People have been writing comments on various blogs and forums as to whether Maria, or indeed any other woman, should be in an F1 car. Joe was just saying that as far as he’s concerned, now “is not the time to get into [those] disputes”. He was trying to dissuade people from having those discussions here on his blog right now at this sad time. Simple as that.
Just my two penn’orth, of course, I may be completely wrong, but I don’t think I am.
Ollie, get out from under that rock please!
Sensitive and well written, Joe. It is appreciated, I’m sure.
It’s truly amazing what some people will read into your words, Joe.
My condolences to Maria and her family, and my continued wishes for as good a recovery as is possible.
In regard to the “emergency services at Duxford Airfield” during a test, what a long way we have come from the ’60s. I just finished watching “Grand Prix: The Killer Years”, and am thankful that though tragedies still happen, they are fewer and drivers are given prompt superior medical attention.
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xmlzni_grand-prix-the-killer-years_auto
I didn’t know when I would get to see this film. Thank you for the link. A superlative telling of the story.
And no sideways shot at Schumcher to be seen. Bravo Joe.
Get a life
I think it was a technical problem. But the worst light that MdV can be put under is that it was a ‘rookie mistake’ worthy of any rookie whether that rookie be Fernando Alonso when he first tested F1 or Jean Denis Deletraz. This accident is not a remark as to whether MdV is suitable or not for F1. Other metrics are relevant to that and this freak accident isn’t it, in my view. Quite frankly, I think she could be quite qualified – as journeymen have been an accepted fixture on the grid of a very expensive sport with teams on a shoe string, since the sports inception. I think paid drivers in the traditional sense add colour to the sport as long as they are sufficiently diligent as not to be disruptive.
As for Maria, maybe one day she can drop by Lord Drayson and seek advice on how to be active in a sport with a significant sight disability. In any event, I wish her the best in her hard struggles ahead.
A terrible tragedy, but a F1 team leaving a tailgate down ! Seen it many times at a lot of race meetings over the last 40+years in the paddocks and have seen collisions a few times with cars and paddock bikes.
However the odds of that happening as it did must be pretty remote but were not in her favour that day unfortunately. A sad sad day.
A tragedy.
Very very sad.
Thoughts with the family and all best wishes to her and her loved ones.
Nicely written Joe and timely.
However, despite your lead there are always some cocks who have to make just one more comment or one more ill informed point . . . . . at the wrong time.
I still don’t now how to react to this. I don’t know the lady, was hardly aware of her career, but I simply sometimes want to disbelieve life itself. I am by birth rather than nature, a religious person. But I shall take up and have taken up praying again. And in other ways, cursing the Gods for so hurting a brave lady. May she be better.