Maria De Villota Dies: Former Formula One Test Driver Found Dead In Spain Hotel Room At 33; How Did She Die?

Formula One racing lost a dedicated figure early Friday morning when former test driver Maria de Villota - a 33-year-old from Madrid, Spain - was found dead in her hotel room in Seville. Investigators on the scene believe that the racing driver died of natural causes and have ruled out the inclusion of drugs or foul play with a full autopsy expected to be carried out. De Villota, who was badly injured in a 2012 crash that cost her to lose her right eye while sustaining multiple head injuries, was a beloved figure in F1 racing and those close to her will surley miss her.

"My deepest condolences go to the De Villota family," FIA President Jean Todt said with sadness. "Maria was a fantastic driver, a leading light for women in motorsport and a tireless campaigner for road safety. Above all she was a friend I deeply admired. She was an inspiration not just to women in this sport, but also to all those who suffered life-threatening injuries." De Villota was extremely instrumental to many people in the sport, including Williams driver Susie Wolff, who was encouraged by de Villota to be a leader for women on the track after Maria suffered the brutal injury last year.

"She very much said to me after it, 'It's up to you to go out there and show them that it is possible for a woman to be successful,'" Wolff said. "She knew that women could compete at that level and that's why, after her accident and her not being able to do that anymore, she just wanted someone to know it was possible. 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."

Daughter of former Formula One driver Emilio de Villota and sister of Emilio de Villota Jr., Maria de Villota leaves behind a legacy that saw her put her footprint in multiple series including Superleague Formula, Euroseries 3000 and Formula Palmer Audi among others.

Deeply saddened by the death of his wife, Rodrigo Garcia - who married de Villota in July - contributed to a Facebook message that told friends and followers of Maria's passing.

Dear Friends: Maria has left us. She had to go to heaven like all angels. We are thankful to God for the extra year and a half that he left her with us.