De Villota undergoes further surgery
The Spanish driver, who lost her right eye as a consequence of the crash, had her first operation since appearing in public for the first time in October.
De Villota underwent surgery for more than seven hours at the La Paz hospital in Madrid, in an operation aimed at the cranial and ocular reconstruction.
New plaques were added to her skull and the doctors said the operation had been a success.
De Villota left the intensive care unit today and will continue with the recovery process, which is not expected to be too long, according to the doctors.
She has one, less critical, operation left.
"Maria has to start her recovery process again but she still has that vital strength that we are used to and she is improving all the times," said her father Emilio de Villota.
"We have been able to talk to her these days and she even followed the final race of the season."