Formula One mourn female test driver De Villota is tragically found dead in hotel room, a year after her horror crash

Former Marussia test driver Maria de Villota has been found dead in a Spanish hotel room. De Villota, who was just 33 years old, was already dead by the time the emergency services arrived at the hotel in Seville. Initial reports claim there was no sign of violence.

Spanish police have confirmed her death, and say it appears she died of natural causes. 'We are assuming it was a natural death, but we cannot confirm anything,' a police spokeswoman said.

Rocked: Maria de Villota has been found dead in a hotel room - the Spanish racer was 33 years old 

  Tragedy: Maria De Villota was the guest of honour at the Spanish Grand Prix earlier this season

Horror crash: Maria De Villota collided with a lorry at the Duxford Aerodrome last year

 A statement released by her family read: 'Dear friends: Maria is gone. She had to go to heaven with all of the angels. Give thanks to God for the year and a half we had left together. Signed, the Villota family.'

The Spanish female Formula One driver suffered grave injuries while driving a Marussia for the first time in July last year.

Performing an aerodynamic test at the Duxford Aerodrome ahead of the British Grand Prix, De Villota crashed into the loading ramp at the back of a team lorry with eyewitness reporting the car was travelling between 30 and 40mph.

De Villota married 29-year-old personal trainer Rodrigo Garcia Millan (below) in July of this year

R.I.P De Villota.