Maria de Villota found dead in hotel

thegoth

RIP. Very sad

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/110522

Myrddin

That's very sad...RIP The article mentions she was able to make a full recovery after the testing accident last year too

Andrew76

Yikes, shocked by that. Very sad news.

Ghost Train

Very sad to read that
RIP

Myrddin

thegoth wrote: »

RIP. Very sad

Look at the dates on the articles

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/103290
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/110522

deadeye187

LIGHTNING wrote: »

RIP

By the way guys I want no talk of cause of death.

R.I.P

h3000

R.I.P.

ZiabR

Its very sad alright, was shocked to see it on the news this morning.

McSasquatch

Tragic news. She came across as being an amazing person. RIP.

Crimson King

Very sad, courageous lady.

RIP

ItsChecoTime

Shocking news, very sad.

RIP

_rebelkid

Terrible news. She was such a daring woman. Herself and Suzi Wolff pushed all edges of the envelope. She deserved her shot in F1, and battled for everything she got. A huge loss. RIP.

Charlie-Bravo

A very sad loss. RIP Maria.

_rebelkid

I know Lightning said no talk of cause of death, but El Pais have reported that an autopsy done has confirmed it was natural causes. http://elpais.com/elpais/2013/10/11/inenglish/1381484794_273217.html

Quixoticelixer

_rebelkid wrote: »

I know Lightning said no talk of cause of death, but El Pais have reported that an autopsy done has confirmed it was natural causes. http://elpais.com/elpais/2013/10/11/inenglish/1381484794_273217.html

At least that puts an end to a certain line of speculation, I have to be honest, despite following f1 fairly closely I hadn't heard of her until today. I've read up a lot about her today, such an incredibly unlucky lady, a freak accident changed her life forever but she didn't let it ruin her life. Due to release her auto biography next week.

The fact that she managed to work her way up into an F1 car speaks volumes about her really. RIP

_rebelkid

Quixoticelixer wrote: »

At least that puts an end to a certain line of speculation, I have to be honest, despite following f1 fairly closely I hadn't heard of her until today. I've read up a lot about her today, such an incredibly unlucky lady, a freak accident changed her life forever but she didn't let it ruin her life. Due to release her auto biography next week.

The fact that she managed to work her way up into an F1 car speaks volumes about her really. RIP

I knew of her not too long before her accident last year. She was such an incredible woman. To achieve what she did, and to have the direction she had before last year was sheer brilliance.

eviltimeban

But... and I hope this isn't me overstepping the line re: cause of death... is it the case that she is F1's first fatality since Senna?

Its very sad news indeed, such a shocking waste of talent. Was watching the Cevert documentary only last night and thinking the same thing.

_rebelkid

eviltimeban wrote: »

But... and I hope this isn't me overstepping the line re: cause of death... is it the case that she is F1's first fatality since Senna?

Its very sad news indeed, such a shocking waste of talent. Was watching the Cevert documentary only last night and thinking the same thing.

If she was killed during a race, yes. She is I think the only currently listed F1 driver to die. There have been drivers of yesteryear die after Senna, but they had retired.

But to deal with your point, technically her death wasn't related to a race, so Senna is still the last F1 driver to be killed in the sport by the sport.

wandatowell

Not the biggest motor sport fan but that lady was gutsy, NO FEAR.


R.I.P.

Scotty #

Very sad news. She was due to launch her autobiography "Life is a gift" on Monday next.

I never really looked to deep into it but always struck me as odd how a car doing straight line speed tests could end up under a truck!?!?

Myrddin

Scotty # wrote: »

Very sad news. She was due to launch her autobiography "Life is a gift" on Monday next.

I never really looked to deep into it but always struck me as odd how a car doing straight line speed tests could end up under a truck!?!?

I think the throttle jammed or stuck when she was not on the actual track or something, & it sent her full throttle towards the trailer part....?

_rebelkid

Myrddin wrote: »

I think the throttle jammed or stuck when she was not on the actual track or something, & it sent her full throttle towards the trailer part....?

Yeah. She was returning to the pit tent after one of the runs, throttle jammed open and she couldn't stop. Totally freak accident.

Autosport

May she Rest In Peace

Cookie_Monster

Myrddin wrote: »

I think the throttle jammed or stuck when she was not on the actual track or something, & it sent her full throttle towards the trailer part....?

_rebelkid wrote: »

Yeah. She was returning to the pit tent after one of the runs, throttle jammed open and she couldn't stop. Totally freak accident.

News report re death also mentioned nothing was wrong with the car in the initial crash.

Her 2012 accident happened in July while she was driving an F1 car for only the fourth time and the first time for her Marussia team. She hit a support truck during an exercise near an airfield in England. A team investigation concluded the car was not at fault.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11138844

It's kinda scary that an injury from such a long time ago can still cause issues despite all seeming well

is it the case that she is F1's first fatality since Senna?

don't forget there have been marshals killed at races as recent as Canada 2013

Even if a throttle stuck open it shouldn't be possible to run into an auxiliary vehicle.

No-one's ever gotten good news with a sentence that ends with "...in a hotel room in x."

Bad news, hopefully it's as bad as there is in F1 for the next while.

frostie500

Sad news when anyone dies but the outpouring of emotion has surprised me. Maybe with her role within Women in Motorsport she did a lot of good but as far as being a driver is concerned she was poor and had no right to sit in an F1 car other than the fact that she brought with her bags of cash to a team in need of some. I'm not looking to speak ill of the dead, or trolling, I'd simply like to know what she did in her role as an ambassador that made her a trail blazer or an iconic figure within our sport.

frostie500

frostie500 wrote: »

Sad news when anyone dies but the outpouring of emotion has surprised me. Maybe with her role within Women in Motorsport she did a lot of good but as far as being a driver is concerned she was poor and had no right to sit in an F1 car other than the fact that she brought with her bags of cash to a team in need of some. I'm not looking to speak ill of the dead, or trolling, I'd simply like to know what she did in her role as an ambassador that made her a trail blazer or an iconic figure within our sport.

Shush, she was a woman and therefore more important.

Slutmonkey57b

Someone's life is worth more than their driving skills. As to the suggestion that being a woman makes her "more important" she had to overcome the same obstacles as any other driver and make the most of whatever opportunities she could, including paying for a drive just like lauda did; but there is an added challenge in being a female driver like there is in any industry, which shouldn't be overlooked.

Was she f1 material? Possibly not, but that's not all anyone should think about just because we're on a motor sport forum.

Slutmonkey57b

Someone's life is worth more than their driving skills. As to the suggestion that being a woman makes her "more important" she had to overcome the same obstacles as any other driver and make the most of whatever opportunities she could, including paying for a drive just like lauda did; but there is an added challenge in being a female driver like there is in any industry, which shouldn't be overlooked.

Was she f1 material? Possibly not, but that's not all anyone should think about just because we're on a motor sport forum.

_rebelkid

Slutmonkey57b wrote: »

Someone's life is worth more than their driving skills. As to the suggestion that being a woman makes her "more important" she had to overcome the same obstacles as any other driver and make the most of whatever opportunities she could, including paying for a drive just like lauda did; but there is an added challenge in being a female driver like there is in any industry, which shouldn't be overlooked.

Was she f1 material? Possibly not, but that's not all anyone should think about just because we're on a motor sport forum.

Like EJ said on the beeb, "What she achieved in this industry is like asking any other woman to go 15 rounds with Mike Tyson (back in the day)".

RayM

frostie500 wrote: »

but as far as being a driver is concerned she was poor and had no right to sit in an F1 car other than the fact that she brought with her bags of cash to a team in need of some.

The same could be said about one or two current F1 drivers, but it's never really been a meritocratic sport. And some pay drivers gradually learn the ropes and become reasonably respected drivers, despite having achieved nothing before Formula 1. Like Susie Wolff, Maria de Villota's age was a huge disadvantage. If she had been ten years younger, maybe she would have had time to develop into a decent F1 driver. Her attitude after the accident suggests that she was an incredibly strong and determined person.

losthorizon

frostie500 wrote: »

Sad news when anyone dies but the outpouring of emotion has surprised me. Maybe with her role within Women in Motorsport she did a lot of good but as far as being a driver is concerned she was poor and had no right to sit in an F1 car other than the fact that she brought with her bags of cash to a team in need of some. I'm not looking to speak ill of the dead, or trolling, I'd simply like to know what she did in her role as an ambassador that made her a trail blazer or an iconic figure within our sport.

TBH Just look at F1 nowadays and compare it to the 80s. What counts mostly is how much money you have rather than how talented you are.


I have never heard you describe any of the current crop of F1 drivers as poor. Surely there are some? Or would naming them get in the way of an interview?
Better wait wait until they are retired, huh?

RIP Maria

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Shush, she was a woman and therefore more important.

Give over, mate.

Infoanon

Very sad news - Maria RIP

There will be a minutes silence before the drivers parade and the podium ceremony will be dedicated to Maria at tomorrows Japanese GP.

Stheno

frostie500 wrote: »

Sad news when anyone dies but the outpouring of emotion has surprised me. Maybe with her role within Women in Motorsport she did a lot of good but as far as being a driver is concerned she was poor and had no right to sit in an F1 car other than the fact that she brought with her bags of cash to a team in need of some. I'm not looking to speak ill of the dead, or trolling, I'd simply like to know what she did in her role as an ambassador that made her a trail blazer or an iconic figure within our sport.

I think this is a shocking post in the context of this thread, a young woman has died, possibly due to the sport she was involved in, yet all the above does is denigrate her being involved due to bags of cash.

I think her history in motorsport begets that.

RIP Maria

Stheno

Stheno wrote: »

I think this is a shocking post in the context of this thread, a young woman has died, possibly due to the sport she was involved in, yet all the above does is denigrate her being involved due to bags of cash.

I think her history in motorsport begets that.

RIP Maria

Agreed. She may not have started a race, but she should be considered the first F1 fatality since Senna and Ratzenberger and she deserves respect. RIP.

Sparks43

Please stop all the unnecessary crap about her being a Woman who didnt make it to the grid.

This thread should be for one thing only.

R.I.P Maria there is a place on Pole in heaven ready for you.

Scotty #

Stheno wrote: »

frostie500 wrote: »

Sad news when anyone dies but the outpouring of emotion has surprised me. Maybe with her role within Women in Motorsport she did a lot of good but as far as being a driver is concerned she was poor and had no right to sit in an F1 car other than the fact that she brought with her bags of cash to a team in need of some. I'm not looking to speak ill of the dead, or trolling, I'd simply like to know what she did in her role as an ambassador that made her a trail blazer or an iconic figure within our sport.

I think this is a shocking post in the context of this thread, a young woman has died, possibly due to the sport she was involved in, yet all the above does is denigrate her being involved due to bags of cash.

I think her history in motorsport begets that.

RIP Maria

No one has been disrespectful. She made national news all day on Friday which I too thought was odd but I think the circumstances of her death was what the news was really reporting. If she'd been rushed to hospital unwell and then passed away I don't think it would have been reported as much, also if it had been off season. Lets be honest, most of us never heard of her until her accident and if we're really honest, that only made front page news because she was a woman (and in F1 that's news in itself).

She was not an F1 driver though and in my opinion her death should not be considered an F1 fatality.

I'm tempted to ask how your F1 test session went.

More seriously, it's hard to dispute that much as we love it, F1 has always been an exclusive and elitist sport in which money, race and gender have always ruled. Lewis Hamilton has had to overcome numerous obstacles to get where he is - racism blocked numerous predecessors in earlier generations.

Let's look forward to the day when a woman competes in F1 on equal terms. Let's hope it's soon, and let's acknowledge de Villota as an important figure along that road.

frostie500

Stheno wrote: »

I think this is a shocking post in the context of this thread, a young woman has died, possibly due to the sport she was involved in, yet all the above does is denigrate her being involved due to bags of cash.

I think her history in motorsport begets that.

RIP Maria

Like I said in my post I wasn't posting to try and be shocking or looking for a reaction just simply saying that I was shocked at how big a story her death was and how it seems that a lot of revisionist history has occurred. I questioned her suitability for the test role when she was given the job and following the accident and most agreed that she did not have the CV to back up the hiring yet apparently it's shocking now to say that? I stand by saying that she wasn't a very good driver but also that iot's sad she died. It's sad for her family and friends but I don't see how made a lasting impact on motorsport which seemed to be what a lot of people were saying. If EJ's comment is accurate, "What she achieved in this industry is like asking any other woman to go 15 rounds with Mike Tyson (back in the day)" I think that is hyperbole of the highest order. Someone like Danica Patrick has broken down barriers for female drivers by winning in Indy Car, leading the Indy 500 and starting from pole at Daytona. I just didn't see Maria having the same impact.

losthorizon wrote: »

TBH Just look at F1 nowadays and compare it to the 80s. What counts mostly is how much money you have rather than how talented you are.

I have never heard you describe any of the current crop of F1 drivers as poor. Surely there are some? Or would naming them get in the way of an interview?
Better wait wait until they are retired, huh?

RIP Maria

I've criticised many drivers in F1 over the years and have said consistently that someone like Max Chilton and Pastor Maldonado are there because of the pay cheque that they bring but the difference between them and Maria is that Pastor won a GP2 title and an F1 race and Chilton won GP2 races. Maria didn't win races or championships.

I've written about the sport for the last few years and try and bring the paddock to as many of you as I can with different stories, quotes and pictures and I think that I deserve the benefit of the doubt at a time like this. I wasn't criticising Maria as a person just asking what impact she made on the sport. I didn't know Maria (like everyone else here) and can only talk about her as a driver and I stand by what I've written about her over the last two years.

Slutmonkey57b

frostie500 wrote: »

Like I said in my post I wasn't posting to try and be shocking or looking for a reaction just simply saying that I was shocked at how big a story her death was and how it seems that a lot of revisionist history has occurred. I questioned her suitability for the test role when she was given the job and following the accident and most agreed that she did not have the CV to back up the hiring yet apparently it's shocking now to say that?

It's more that her driving skills simply aren't relevant in the context of the thread. It's about as relevant as whether or not she dyed her hair.

Some people really enjoy being offended.

losthorizon

Deleted User wrote: »

Some people really enjoy being offended.

Just take a look at some of the other tests in F1 or indeed straight line tests and you would be hard pressed to recognize some of the names. Some of them have achieved nothing or hardly anything at all thats the nature of tests.

I was at the Spanish GP two years a go now I think when Maldonado won - that man is lucky to be allowed to drive at all after his former record in racing. He was banned from motor racing in Monaco for life at one stage after ignoring yellow flags totally and hitting a marshal at full speed who nearly died as a result. This from a F1 race winner. IMO hes a bit of a nut job but there you go.

There was no talk of Maria de Villota getting a F1 drive but to read some of the enmity towards her is incredible.

Where's the enmity? Are people not allowed to think the coverage and "reactions" a bit odd considering what she actually contributed to the sport?


This guy needs to be gotten rid of too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJaZ9I-556w

Slutmonkey57b

Deleted User wrote: »

Where's the enmity? Are people not allowed to think the coverage and "reactions" a bit odd considering what she actually contributed to the sport?

You're assuming that people's reactions have (or should have) anything to do with her driving ability or achievements compared to the F1 paddock. There is more to a person's life than their talents or achievements, and people are reacting to her life, not her profession.

Slutmonkey57b

Slutmonkey57b wrote: »

You're assuming that people's reactions have (or should have) anything to do with her driving ability or achievements compared to the F1 paddock. There is more to a person's life than their talents or achievements, and people are reacting to her life, not her profession.

No I'm not. Are there similar reactions when a mechanic dies or journo who's in the pitlane every weekend? No, it might be mentioned at the start of a broadcast and that'll be it.