Watch the moment Spanish F1 pundit makes cruel joke about Michael Schumacher’s physical condition on live TV – 10 years after legend’s skiing accident
- A Spanish F1 pundit is facing severe backlash for recent comments on live TV
- Antonio Lobato made reference to the physical condition of Schumacher
- Mail Sport’s new WhatsApp Channel: Get the breaking news and exclusives here
A Spanish F1 pundit is facing calls to apologise after making a joke about Michael Schumacher’s physical condition on live television.
Schumacher had a skiing accident in December 2013 and was put in a medically induced coma. He hasn’t appeared publicly ever since.
The former Formula One driver – who won seven world championships – is cared for by a team of medical staff, and his wife Corinna, at their Lake Geneva home.
Despite being out of the public eye for nearly a decade, Schumacher’s name cropped up during recent discussions following the Japanese Grand Prix.
In a video that has now appeared on Twitter, one pundit said: ‘Let [Red Bull engineer] Adrian Newey be shaking because Antonio Lobato is coming’.
Michael Schumacher (pictured in 2005) hasn’t been in public since a skiing accident in 2013
Spanish journalist Antonio Lobato (pictured) is facing a backlash for comments made on Schumacher following the Japanese Grand Prix
Lobato himself responded: ‘Let Michael be shaking! Well… not Michael, he cannot shake.’
The 58-year-old journalist has since faced numerous calls to resign following the ill-humoured comment.
One fan wrote: ‘An apology from [Antonio Lobato] would be the minimum, a sign of decency You don’t disrespect ANYONE that way, especially when thousands of people are watching you. Journalism in Spain has a very bright present and future with people like this,’ they continued.
A second user posted: ‘Shocking to think that was an acceptable joke. He must apologise.’
Earlier this month, former F1 driver Johnny Herbert – Schumacher’s team-mate at Benetton – revealed that the legend is ‘not close’ to returning to his former self.
‘There’s never any news. What we do know is we never hear any positive news,’ Herbert said.
‘That’s the horrible thought that he is still not able to be close to the Michael that we all remember. And that is very sad.’
In April, a German magazine was labelled as ‘stupid’ after they promoted an ‘exclusive interview’ with Michael Schumacher on the front cover of their latest edition – only to later reveal the fake quotes were generated via Artificial Intelligence (AI).
A secrecy remains about his condition and so heads turned when German magazine Die Aktuelle revealed an ‘exclusive interview’ with the stricken driver.
The front cover, dated April 15, 2023, included the exclusive tag, as well as a picture of a smiling Schumacher. They went on to claim it is ‘the first interview’ he has given since his skiing accident.
Schumacher’s wife Corinna (pictured together skiing in 2005) has kept his condition private
German mag Die Aktuelle claimed to have an ‘exclusive interview’ with Michael Schumacher
The article, which does not feature a byline, continues before ending with an admission that the quotes are in fact fake and they have not spoken to Schumacher or anyone in the family.
‘Did Michael Schumacher really say everything himself? The interview was online. On a page that has to do with artificial intelligence, or AI for short,’ the now widely derided piece concludes.
Immediately F1 fans condemned the magazine for its ‘lack of decency’ and the ‘shame’ in purpoting to have spoken to Schumacher.
German media expert Boris Rosenkranz wrote a comment piece labelling the stunt ‘Too stupid to be true’.
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