German mag issues 'fake apology' for mocking Michael Schumacher in 'burnt Niki Lauda' cover picture

The German magazine, which had mocked comatose Formula One legend Michael Schumacher with its cover pic, has reportedly issued a 'fake apology' after pretending that the injured former racing star now looks like burned Austrian racing legend Niki Lauda.

A front page of satire magazine Titanic featured a picture of Lauda, who suffered burns to his face during a 1976 Grand Prix crash in Germany and underneath the picture was the headline: 'Exclusive - First Photo After The Accident - This is how badly it affected Schumi'. 

According to the Daily Express, however, despite worldwide criticism of the cover, Titanic has refused to back down, and has even released a fake apology in a press release, which stated that they understood the concern but want to assure their fans that they sent an investigative reporter dressed as a nurse into the clinic in Grenoble. The statement further said that if they had made a 'tragic mix up' with another prominent F1 driver that may have been involved in a crash, then they regret it, 'at least a little bit'.

The report mentioned that Titanic has had 35 editions banned since it was founded in 1979.

Doctors in Grenoble are beginning the process of attempting to wake the seven-time German champion from his artificial coma following his skiing accident in late December in the French Alpine resort of Meribel, the report added.