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 calls to apologize after making a joke about Michael Schumacher’s physical condition on live television.

Schumacher had a skiing accident in December 2013 and was put into a medically induced coma. He has not appeared in public since.

The former Formula 1 driver – who won seven world championships – is being cared for by a team of medical staff and his wife Corinna at their home on Lake Geneva.

Despite disappearing from the public eye for almost a decade, Schumacher’s name surfaced in recent discussions after the Japanese Grand Prix.

In a video that has now appeared on Tweetsaid one expert: ‘Make (Red Bull engineer) Adrian Newey shake because Antonio Lobato is coming’.

Spanish journalist Antonio Lobato (photo) faces backlash over comments about Schumacher after the Japanese Grand Prix

Lobato himself replied: ‘Let Michael tremble! Well…not Michael, he can’t shake.’

The 58-year-old journalist has since faced numerous calls to resign following the bad-tempered comment.

One fan wrote: ‘An apology from (Antonio Lobato) would be the minimum, a sign of decency. You don’t respect anyone like that, especially when thousands of people are watching you. “Journalism in Spain has a very bright future and future with these types of people,” they continued.

A second user wrote: ‘Shocking to think this was an acceptable joke. He needs to apologize.”

Earlier this month, former F1 driver Johnny Herbert spoke – Schumacher’s teammate at Benetton – revealed the legend is ‘not close’ to returning to his former self.

‘There is never any news. What we do know is that we never hear any positive news,” Herbert said.

“That’s the horrible thought that he still can’t be close to the Michael we all remember. And that is very sad.’

In April, a German magazine was branded ‘stupid’ after they promoted an ‘exclusive interview’ with Michael Schumacher on the front cover of their latest edition – only to later reveal that the fake quotes had been generated via artificial intelligence (AI).

His condition remains a secret, which is why heads turned when German magazine Die Aktuelle revealed an ‘exclusive interview’ with the stricken driver.

The front, dated April 15, 2023, featured the exclusive label, as well as a photo of a smiling Schumacher. They further claimed that this is “the first interview” he has given since his skiing accident.

Schumacher’s wife Corinna (pictured skiing together in 2005) has kept his condition private

German magazine Die Aktuelle claimed to have an ‘exclusive interview’ with Michael Schumacher

The article, which contains no byline, continues before ending with an admission that the quotes are in fact fake and that Schumacher or anyone else in the family was not spoken to.

‘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.

F1 fans immediately condemned the magazine for its ‘lack of decency’ and ’embarrassment’ in claiming to have spoken to Schumacher.

German media expert Boris Rosenkranz wrote one commentary piece labeling the stunt as ‘Too stupid to be true’.