De Villota reveals scars to media at press conference
11 October, 2012
Maria de Villota made her first public appearence after her life-threatening F1 testing accident.
Oct.11 (GMM) Spanish F1 test driver Maria de Villota has made her first public appearance since almost being killed at the wheel of a Marussia earlier this year.
De Villota appeared in the pages of Hola! magazine on Wednesday, but on Thursday she addressed the international media for a press conference in Madrid.
Wearing an eye patch which matched her tailored jacket and showing scars from her skull injuries stretching from her forehead all the way down the side of her nose and down her face, she recalled the emotional moment when she was first told she had lost her right eye.
“I looked at the doctor and asked him if he was a surgeon, and he said yes,” she is quoted by the AS sports newspaper.
“I said you need two hands to operate, and I need both eyes because I’m a Formula One driver.
“At that time I did not value that this person right here had saved my life, but he saw that what really matters is life, and that I [am] alive,” said de Villota.
“With this new opportunity I will live at 100 per cent, as with this eye I see much more than before.”
She also recalled when she looked at her injured face in the mirror for the first time and thought “Who will love me?”, but now realises that the affection of her family and her supporters is enough love “to cover this life and another”.
“I’m much better,” she is quoted by Marca sports newspaper, “although this is an endurance race.
“There is life beyond F1, and I am sure the best is yet to come.”
Also present at the press conference was Spanish motor racing president Carlos Gracia, who would not comment on the investigation into what happened that day at Duxford (UK).
“It [the investigation] is still open and we should not talk about it,” he said.
Subbed by AJN.
Related posts:
- De Villota: I have won this race because I’m alive
- De Villota to make first appearance since injury
- De Villota thanks fans in hand written note
- De Villota returns home to Spain to continue recovery
- De Villota family no comment on Marussia statement
@ psych4191
If you can understand that garbled listings your good.
I do not deny that taking a female on board is linked to marketing.
I watched her drive the super league cars and the Lotus I am not saying she had world championship instant pace but then who knows with half the field being pay drivers. I would say that people wondered about the Hulk and Timo and Hamilton before they start driving on the track.
Who cares any driver who gets high enough to test and then get in a team has potential and some talent. don’t forget many drivers cant get an F1 car to move more than 30cm.
Oh please, McLarenfan…
First, you’re correct. Drivers do work their way up. She hasn’t. She paid her way up. De Villota has not one a single race. Looking on Wikipedia, she hasn’t even been on a podium. You say she has talent, uh, prove it. She had sponsors, just like Danica Patrick. Sponsors paid the way, instead of skill paving the way. If she was a male, she’d be stuck in formula 3 at best. Marussia for sure is to blame for all that happened. Their greed and utter stupidity caused it. I do not blame her for getting in the car, we all would, I blame Marussia for using her as a cheap publicity stunt.
@ psych4191:
Right for a start all the drivers work their way up a ladder then they have to do so many hours in the car before being granted the super licence.
You are making assumptions that you have no right to make.
Maria has talent she had already tested for Lotus, she was on the short list for Lotus.
She had a freak accident and from all angles Marussia have still got to face some music for the truck and the tail lift as for the rest the powers that be will have the final say NOT YOU>
@McLarenFan Yes, there is. She had no business being in the car in the first place. She didn’t have the proper license, and she was in a car that overshot her abilities. The only reason she was even in the car was so that Marussia could grab headlines. They did just that, for all the wrong reasons.
@psych4191:
whats that about is there any need?
she’s still got the “look “of a winner
You know what else you need? A Super License. But you didn’t have one when you lost your eye did you? Nope.
@ Tamburello_1994 & John
Indeed your both right and the smile she has is genuine.
I’m with John. Couldn’t have said it better, Mate.
Brave indeed, and if I’m allowed to say – stunning looking. She’s still got it.
She is one brave woman.
Carlos Gracia’s comment to me reads that there is still something going to hit the fan so to speak I think people were hoping that Maria had a bout of amnesia !!!!!!!!