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María de Villota: Susie Wolff and Monisha Kaltenborn lead tributes María de Villota: Susie Wolff and Monisha Kaltenborn lead tributes
(34 minutes later)
Williams development driver Susie Wolff and Sauber team principal Monisha Kaltenborn have led the tributes from the world of Formula One following the death of María de Villota. The 33-year-old was found dead at a hotel in Seville on Friday morning. The Williams development driver Susie Wolff and the Sauber team principal, Monisha Kaltenborn, have led the tributes from the world of Formula One following the death of María de Villota. The 33-year-old was found dead at a hotel in Seville on Friday morning.
De Villota was the daughter of former F1 driver Emilio and competed in F3, GTs, touring cars and the Superleague Formula before signing for Marussia in March 2012. De Villota was the daughter of the former F1 driver Emilio and competed in F3, the World Touring Car Championship and the Superleague Formula Championship before signing for Marussia in March 2012.
On July 3 last year, De Villota was involved in a freak accident at Duxford Aerodrome that resulted in her losing her right eye. Despite spending a month in hospital, De Villota rebuilt her life and became part of the FIA's Women and Motorsport Commission. On 3 July last year, De Villota was involved in a freak accident at Duxford aerodrome which resulted in her losing her right eye. Despite spending a month in hospital, De Villota rebuilt her life and became part of the FIA's Women and Motor Sport Commission.
De Villota proved an inspiration for many women drivers including Wolff, who emotionally recalled being motivated by numerous messages of support from the Spaniard ahead of her first significant test with Williams at Silverstone in July. De Villota proved an inspiration for many female drivers including Wolff, who emotionally recalled being motivated by numerous messages of support from the Spaniard ahead of her first significant test with Williams at Silverstone in July.
Wolff said: "We both agreed her accident should never have happened. It was a stupid, freak accident. Wolff said: "We both agreed her accident should never have happened. It was a stupid, freak accident. It had no relation to which gender of driver was in the car that day and she very much said to me after: 'It's up to you to go out there and show them that it [a female driver in F1] is possible'.
"It had no relation to which gender of driver was in the car that day and she very much said to me after it 'it's up to you to go out there and show them that it (a woman driver in F1) is possible'. "I can remember her sending me the message before the test. She said: 'I can imagine you are starting to get apprehensive, but don't think twice about it. You can do it. Just do what you do'.
"I can remember her sending me the message before the test. She said 'I can imagine you are starting to get apprehensive, but don't think twice about it. You can do it. Just do what you do'. "She knew from the testing she had done, and the time she had had in the car, that it was possible. She knew that women could compete at that level and that's why, after her accident and her not being able to do that any more, she just wanted someone to know it was possible.
"She knew from the testing she had done, and the time she had had in the car, that it was possible. "Out of the paddock and out of the motor sport bubble, she was an incredible character, she was a fighter. She had such a spirit for life. What she came through was a testament to her strength of character and her positive outlook on life. She was just an incredible lady, no matter what she did on the race track. She was just an incredible character."
"She knew that women could compete at that level and that's why, after her accident and her not being able to do that any more, she just wanted someone to know it was possible. Kaltenborn came to know De Villota through the Women and Motor Sport Commission which was founded in June 2012, just before the latter's accident. Reflecting on De Villota's life, Kaltenborn said: "We all have our issues, but nothing compares to what she went through.
"Out of the paddock and out of the motorsport bubble, she was an incredible character, she was a fighter. "When I met her the first time, we spent this day and a half in Paris and it was great being with her. She was so bubbly, full of life and so excited about her test she was going to do.
"She had such a spirit for life. What she came through was a testament to her strength of character and her positive outlook on life. "She said she couldn't believe it, that she had been given a chance, but then things went so terribly wrong. We even saw once an x-ray after her accident, what had actually happened to her head, and we couldn't believe it.
"She was just an incredible lady, no matter what she did on the race track. She was just an incredible character." "But from her you can only learn to have that much strength in life. There is no moment I don't remember of her when she didn't have a smile on her face. No matter what happened she always had this smile."
Kaltenborn came to know De Villota through the Women and Motorsport Commission that was founded in June 2012, just before the latter's accident. Kaltenborn feels De Villota will continue to serve as an inspiration and that the work of the commission will now carry greater meaning. "Looking at the commission, you think how you can be convincing out there, to give young girls strength," Kaltenborn said.
Reflecting on De Villota's life, Kaltenborn said: "We all have our issues, but nothing compares to what she went through. "She was the best person for that after going through what she did, to still come out there and be so convinced about the whole thing. You can only learn and pass that on to the girls, that here is someone – although not so long in this sport – who hopefully made a difference.
"When I met her the first time, we spent this day and a half in Paris and it was great being with her. "It is for us now, in the commission, to transport that message further, because with her I know you can move things with whatever she has done and left for us."
"She was so bubbly, full of life and so excited about her test she was going to do.
"She said she couldn't believe it, that she had been given a chance, but then things went so terribly wrong.
"We even saw once an X-ray after her accident, what had actually happened to her head, and we couldn't believe it.
"But from her you can only learn to have that much strength in life.
"There is no moment I don't remember of her when she didn't have a smile on her face. No matter what happened she always had this smile."
Kaltenborn feels De Villota will continue to serve as an inspiration and that the work of the Commission will now carry greater meaning.
"Looking at the Commission, you think how you can be convincing out there, to give young girls strength," added Kaltenborn.
"She was the best person for that after going through what she did, to still come out there and be so convinced about the whole thing.
"You can only learn and pass that on to the girls, that here is someone - although not so long in this sport - who hopefully made a difference.
"It is for us now, in the Commission, to transport that message further, because with her I know you can move things with whatever she has done and left for us."
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