F1: Marussia Says De Villota Condition Improving

Formula 1

F1: Marussia Says De Villota Condition Improving

Marussia team sees improvement in injured driver's condition...

Adam Cooper | http://www.speedtv.com | Posted July 11, 2012 Balen (BEL)

Marussia test driver Maria de Villota, pictured here earlier this year in Valencia, Spain, was seriously injured in a low-speed test crash at Duxford airfield. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

The Marussia team has issued a positive update on the condition of Maria de Villota, some eight days after her accident at Duxford.

The team says that her condition is improving, and that she is no longer under sedation.

A statement said: “Following two successful surgical procedures in the days following the accident, last Saturday the medical team at Addenbrooke’s Hospital began to gradually reduce the level of Maria’s sedation. By Sunday morning, Maria was awake and able to speak to her family, which provided a very important – albeit early – indication that there were positive signs for Maria’s recovery.

“Since that time, Maria has been making small but significant steps. She was moved out of the Neurological Critical Care Unit on Monday and is no longer receiving sedation. Her family remain by her side and she is communicating freely with them and the medical team. Medical assessments are ongoing to monitor Maria’s improving condition.”

Adam Cooper notched up his 27th season as a racing journalist in 2011. He has written about F1 for SPEED.com since 2005. Follow him on Twitter.