This tasteless and misleading article should never have appeared. It in no way corresponds to the journalistic demands that we – and our readers – place on a band like Funke. regrets Bianca Pohlmann, Head of Magazines at the Funke Group, in a press release.

The editor-in-chief of the current one, Anne Hoffmann, who had taken over journalistic responsibility for the magazine since 2009, was relieved of her duties from this Saturday, she adds and hands over her “apology to the family of the legendary German Formula 1 driver.

The magazine boasted it had received an interview with Michael Schumacher, the first since his skiing accident and severe head trauma in the French Alps in late 2013.

The gossip magazine published on Wednesday the interview and revealed that it was generated by an artificial intelligence.

The article contained quotes attributed to Schumacher relating to his family life since the accident and his health.

After this publication, the ex-champion’s family announced that they wanted to file a complaint.

The family of now 54-year-old Michael Schumacher are meticulous about protecting the privacy of the former champion, who has not been seen in public since his accident. Since then, almost no information about his health has leaked out.

The most successful champion in F1 history, with seven crowns and level on points with Lewis Hamilton, who succeeded him at Mercedes, had left hospital six months after his accident and been placed in a medical bed at the family villa in Switzerland. in Gland (canton of Vaud).