Reactions to Michael Schumacher’s joke multiply

The name of legendary Formula 1 driver Michael Schumacher, who was in a coma for almost 10 years after a skiing accident in Switzerland in December 2013, came to light again after the Japanese Grand Prix due to a joke about him .

Spanish Formula 1 commentator Antonio Lobato was the subject of harsh reactions when responding live to the comment that “Red Bull engineer Adrián Newey may tremble because Antonio Lobato is coming.”

Lobato commented on the post: “Michael can shake too! “Well…not Michael, he can’t shake,” he commented. This comment generated strong criticism from social media users. Faced with the reactions, Lobato first said that his joke was “misunderstood” and that he “respected” Schumacher.

HE APOLOGIZED WITH A FIVE MINUTE VIDEO

Lobato, whose statement was not considered sufficient, announced that he apologized to everyone as the reactions continued.

I think it is necessary to explain and admit that I was wrong. Please listen to my video. It’s a little long, but I think it’s necessary. pic.twitter.com/89QlCMws2v

—Antonio Lobato (@alobatof1) September 25, 2023

Lobato made the following statements in his five-minute apology video:

“One day you have to make a serious video and that moment has arrived. For the first time I will make a video with a relatively serious tone to clarify everything, because I want everything to be quite clear.

First of all, I must admit that yesterday, during the Japanese Grand Prix program, I made a mistake without any bad intentions. And maybe this was not an excuse to stand for many hours, or Jetlag in Madrid, or whatever, for those of you who have not seen it, this was a mistake, but pure incompetence, inability to express myself correctly. .

It was after the show. Noemí de Miguel, Pedro de la Rosa, Toni Cuquerella and I had interviewed Paul Monaghan, constructors’ world champion with Red Bull. Paul Monaghan is a good friend of mine. He was Fernando Alonso’s track engineer in 2004.

They were talking about how many championships he had and I said: ‘Only Red Bull has them.’ Because Fernando Alonso never won a world championship with Renault,’ I said, and then Toni Cuquerella and Pedro started making fun of me, they said: ‘Of course, of course, he has more world championships than Paul Monaghan.’ I continued joking a little and then Cuquerella told me: ‘Adrián Newey, the Red Bull engineer, may be shaking because Antonio Lobato is coming.’

Will you get the number of world championships? It’s a little crazy, because it was part joke, part situation, part conversation, almost meaningless, like friends at the coffee shop. And then, when he told me about Adrian Newey, of course I tried to look for another reference, a legend like Adrian Newey in the technical field, with many championships in the world of Formula 1.

“Yes, yes, yes, Adrian shake, Newey shake,” I said, and the name Michael Schumacher came to mind. Yes, the name Michael Schumacher comes to mind. Maybe it’s because of my great admiration for him… The name of Michael Schumacher may come to mind for many people, who has seven world championships and the second with the most victories in the history of Formula 1 due to his records, titles and victories. when getting references.

I don’t regret naming him, but I was looking for a reference to the historical genius and legend of F1. Maybe I should have said Lewis Hamilton. Michael Schumacher has a very complicated situation for him and his family.

No need to put it in this joking tone we’re in, right? I wanted to correct myself and at that moment a phrase came out and I think those who listen to me carefully will understand that I am trying to slow down.

What happened is that I went too far and used an expression that was neither good, nor true, nor subtle, nor boring.

I didn’t mean to joke. I didn’t mean to make fun of Michael Schumacher, no. Also, I think anyone who knows me and knows what kind of person I am knows very well that he would never joke about something like this. Never. But I was clumsy.

For the record, I was the first to be surprised when I said that phrase. I said, ‘How can you say that, man? He’s going to be misunderstood.’ That’s not what you meant. “You wanted to say something else and it didn’t come out well,” I told him.

So the only thing I have to do, and I think it’s a basic thing, is to apologize to anyone who was offended by that statement. I told it very seriously. “I didn’t say it to laugh or to make jokes about the physical condition of Michael Schumacher, whom I know, I admire, I consider a reference and I think he is quite unfortunate.”