Legendary driver Sir Jackie Stewart believes Michael Schumacher should have refused to be a part of Ferrari’s team orders during the intensely controversial Austrian Grand Prix last weekend.

Leader Rubens Barrichello was told on the radio to slow at the exit of the final turn to let Schumacher through to take victory. Schumacher was then told to pass the Brazilian, but Stewart, the former triple World Champion, told BBC Radio Five Live that the German should have ignored the transmission.

‘Michael could easily have disregarded the instruction,’ said the Scotsman.

‘He has more power in Ferrari than any single man I have ever known in all of my career in motorsport as a watcher of Ferrari.

‘It could have been altered by Michael's personal initiative; he could have said it on the radio.’

Stewart said the team order display was an embarrassment to the sport.

‘Rubens was pushed into a position he did not want to be in,’ he said. ‘The manner in which it was all conducted was very embarrassing.

‘It didn't look good for motor racing. Rubens drove an impressive race and it was a PR blunder more than anything else.’

Ferrari, Schumacher and Barrichello have been called to appear before the World Council on June 26 in Paris. Representatives on the Council will be demanding an explanation from the team about the team orders, and will be asking the drivers about the incident on the podium after the race when Schumacher gave Barrichello the winner’s trophy and ushered him onto the top step of the podium. That is a punishable offence.