The 33-year-old Spaniard Maria De Villota lost an eye and fractured her skull when she crashed into a truck at Duxford Aerodrome in Cambridgeshire on July 3 last year.
But although she no longer raced, she was said to have been rebuilding her life and had become part of the FIA’s Women In Motorsport commission.
It is understood she was on a tour promoting her autobiography at the time of her death.
Spanish police said it appeared she died of natural causes.
“There are no signs of violence, but we need to wait for the autopsy,” a police spokeswoman said, adding that a forensic team was at the hotel.
She was the daughter of former F1 driver Emilio de Villota, and competed in F3, GTs, touring cars and the Superleague Formula before joining up with the Marussia team.
A statement on de Villota’s Facebook page, signed by her family, read: “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.”
De Villota was in hospital in Cambridge for a month after last year’s accident and wore a patch over her lost eye.
X-ray images of her fractured skull led many to describe her survival from the crash as a “miracle”.
Friends said the accident did not appear to have dampened her spirits.
Susie Wolff, a Williams development driver, said: “After the accident she was so behind me and had such a lust for life, she was so happy to be alive and that she’d survived it and she had so many great plans for the future.
“She was just an incredible lady, no matter about what she did on the racetrack. She was just an incredible character.”
The news of de Villota’s death broke as Formula One teams completed the second practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka, but they still took to Twitter to pay tribute to the driver.
A message from the Sauber F1 team read: “We are shocked to hear about the death of Maria de Villota. Our sincerest condolences and sympathy to her family for this tragic loss.”
Caterham F1 Team added: “We’d like to echo the thoughts of the whole paddock and express our deepest condolences on the news of Maria de Villota’s passing. RIP.”
Sahara Force India said: “Very sad news coming from Spain about brave Maria de Villota passing away. Our thoughts are with Maria’s family and friends in this moment.”
De Villota married her personal trainer Rodrigo Garcia Millan in July.
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