De Villota family weighs legal action after Marussia cleared over 2012 crash
Maria de Villota’s family is reviewing legal options after UK authorities found insufficient evidence to prosecute Marussia over her 2012 testing accident.
Maria de Villota’s family is considering civil legal action following the UK Health and Safety Executive’s decision not to prosecute the former Marussia Formula One team over her 2012 testing accident. De Villota died in October 2013, more than a year after sustaining severe head injuries during a straight-line test at Duxford Aerodrome.
The Health and Safety Executive announced in May 2015 that there was not enough evidence to bring criminal proceedings against Marussia, which later became Manor. The agency declined to comment on whether driver error played a role in the incident, in which de Villota’s car struck a stationary truck loading ramp, causing her to lose her right eye and suffer extensive facial injuries.
Following the HSE’s statement, the de Villota family confirmed it is studying the findings and may pursue legal action to assign civil responsibility. The family, including Maria’s father and former F1 driver Emilio de Villota, said they have not yet seen the full report and are awaiting its release before deciding on next steps. According to a statement reported in Spanish media, the family’s aim is to prevent similar accidents through accountability measures.
Legal context and next steps
The HSE’s decision closes the door on criminal prosecution but leaves open the possibility of a civil case. The family’s statement makes clear that any legal action would focus on civil liability rather than criminal fault. The outcome could have implications for safety procedures in Formula One testing environments, particularly regarding the responsibility of teams to protect drivers during non-race activities.
