Is it Matt that works at one of the teams? maybe he can confirm, I'm pretty sure the throttle is connected to the ECU which controls the engine, there's no actual physical connection between the throttle and the fuel injection system (no throttle cable so to speak, hence the nickname 32bit throttle).

So is that a yes to fly-by-wire? or is there an actual cable involved?

F1: De Villota No Longer In Intensive Care - Sister

Maria de Villota has moved out of the intensive care unit at a Cambridge (UK) hospital.

Marussia boss John Booth said on Sunday that the team's test driver is no longer in an artificial coma and has therefore been able to speak with her family, including her father and former F1 driver Emilio de Villota.

"Her level of sedation has been reduced markedly," he told the Spanish broadcaster Antena3.

De Villota's sister Isabel is quoted by the Spanish media as saying the 32-year-old has "made good progress in the last hours" and has "left the ICU unit".

But she warned: "The coming days will be crucial for her recovery and to determine the extent of the consequences (of her injuries)."

any news?

A further update on Maria

In the eight days since her accident, we are very happy to report that Maria is making remarkable progress - 11 July

It is now eight days since Maria De Villota’s accident at Duxford Airfield in her debut test for the Team.

Despite severe injuries, Maria’s recovery during that time has been remarkable.

Following two successful surgical procedures in the days following the accident, last Saturday the medical team at Addenbrooke’s Hospital began to gradually reduce the level of Maria’s sedation. By Sunday morning, Maria was awake and able to speak to her family, which provided a very important - albeit early - indication that there were positive signs for Maria’s recovery.

Since that time, Maria has been making small but significant steps. She was moved out of the Neurological Critical Care Unit on Monday and is no longer receiving sedation. Her family remain by her side and she is communicating freely with them and the medical team. Medical assessments are ongoing to monitor Maria’s improving condition.

We have provided this update with the consent and support of the De Villota family who, whilst keen to ensure Maria’s care remains the priority, are understanding and appreciative of the concern for her wellbeing.

We can indeed report that Maria De Villota has now left hospital in the UK and returned to Spain

A Spanish publication has spotted a walking and apparently well Maria de Villota entering an outpatient clinic in Spain this week.

After 17 days in a UK hospital, and several more days in hospital in her native Madrid, the 32-year-old finally went home last week.

La Nueva Espana now reports that, almost a full month since her horror Duxford testing crash, de Villota was seen visiting the Instituto Oftalmologico Fernandez-Vega - an eye specialist clinic - in Oviedo, Spain.

The report said she arrived in a black Mercedes with members of her family, with her hair shaved after several recent operations.

La Nueva Espana said wounds were clearly visible, as was a blue eye patch.

The report said video and photographs of de Villota leaving the car and entering the clinic were taken, but they are not being published "at the request of the family"