German magazine sacks editor and apologises for “tasteless” Michael Schumacher story

German magazine Die Aktuelle has sacked its editor and apologised for its “tasteless” story on Michael Schumacher generated by artificial intelligence.

Die Aktuelle published a mock interview with the seven-time Formula 1 world champion on the front cover of last week’s magazine with a headline claiming “Michael Schumacher, the first interview”.

However, it has been revealed the claimed “quotes” had been produced by artificial intelligence.

Schumacher is regarded as one of, if not the greatest Formula 1 driver of all time, having won 91 Grands Prix between 1992 and 2006.

Across legendary stints for Benetton and Ferrari he won a record seven world drivers titles in 1994, 95, 2000, 01, 02, 04 and 04, a feat only Lewis Hamilton can match.

The German, who hung his racing helmet up in 2012 after a brief three-year revival with Mercedes has not been seen in public since December 2013 when he suffered a serious brain injury from a sad and shocking skiing accident in the French Alps.

The Schumacher family has closely guarded the Formula 1 legend’s privacy ever since, with little information given about his condition.

After becoming aware of the disturbing artificial intelligence generated story, the Schumacher family announced its intentions of planning legal action against Die Aktuelle.

In response, the magazine’s owners, Funke Media Group and its managing director Bianca Pohlmann apologised and announced the editor had been sacked after allowing the “misleading” article to go to print.

“This tasteless and misleading article should never have appeared,” said Pohlmann.

“It in no way meets the standards of journalism that we and our readers expect from a publisher like Funke.

“As a result of the publication of this article, immediate personnel consequences will be drawn. Die Aktuelle editor-in-chief Anne Hoffmann, who has held journalistic responsibility for the paper since 2009, will be relieved of her duties as of today.”

Despite little public knowledge of Schumacher’s current condition, the family helped produce a special Netflix documentary celebrating the life of the F1 legend.

The documentary titled ‘Schumacher’  has been on the subscription service since 2021 and Michael’s wife Corinna touched on her husband’s condition at the end, stating how his presence gives the family “strength”.

“Michael is here. Different, but he’s here, and that gives us strength, I find,” Corinna said.

“We are together. We live together at home. We do therapy.

“We do everything we can to make Michael better and to make sure he is comfortable and to simply make him feel our family, our bond. And no matter what, I will do everything I can. We all will.

“We’re trying to carry on as a family, the way Michael liked it and still does. We are getting on with our lives. ‘Private is private’, as he always said.

“It’s very important to me that he can continue to enjoy his private life as much as possible. Michael always protected us, and now we are protecting Michael.”

Michael’s son Mick has also followed in his famous father’s footsteps and raced all the way to Formula 1 in recent years.

The younger Schumacher drove for Haas across two seasons in 2021 and 2022, but lost his seat to Nico Hulkenberg this year and currently performs the role as Mercedes reserve driver.

For more of the latest motorsport news, pick up the latest issue of AUTO ACTION.

AUTO ACTION, Australia’s independent voice of motorsport.