Schumi needs to read rules

London: Across the years, Michael Schumacher’s readiness to flout Formula One’s regulations has earned him a reputation as one of the most arrogant and ruthless grand prix racers of all time.

Now an apparent ignorance of the rules has had him chastised by F1’s top official, race director Charlie Whiting.

It all stems from Schumacher’s brain-fade at the Hungarian round last time out, the last race before the month-long break.

And, as he luxuriates in the splendour of his lakeside mansion in Switzerland, the 43-year-old, F1’s oldest driver, would do well to update himself on the rules if he is to steer himself clear of any further reprimands.

Unless, of course, as has been the case in the past with the uppity seven-times champion, he could not care less.

And, perhaps, that is nearer the truth.

What happened to cause the latest furore in Schumacher’s frequently troubled career was this: For some reason best known to himself, he parked his Mercedes in slot 19 and not where he should have been, in his qualifying 17th place after the formation lap.

Then he switched off his engine, expecting no doubt that the marshals would push him to where he should have been.

He had, apparently, forgotten the start procedure had changed SEVEN years before.

Normally what happened to him would have called for another formation lap and he would have been okay. Instead, he caused chaos.

He and his dead motor had to be pushed clear of the grid into the pit lane from where he started the delayed race.

After crashing in practice on Friday, qualifying so miserably, struggling to keep up with teammate Nico Rosberg, lining up in the wrong place and turning off his engine when he should not have, it all added up to a gloomy weekend for the seven-times champion and his team.

But it got worse. He was penalised for speeding in the pit lane, held up the front-runners, and then had to quit after getting no higher than 18th in what, I reckon, was probably the most disastrous, or careless, weekend in his 299-race career.

Whiting has regurgitated it all with his comments that Schumacher, the second most experienced driver in the history of F1, should have had more sense.

“Michael should know the rules,” he said.

And he went on: “We assume that a team competing in F1 knows the rules and its responsibility is to ensure their drivers — the employees — know the rules, too.”

The race chief has now revealed: “Drivers do not need to take a rule test before the season. We at the FIA presume they will be aware of the regulations.”

Whether Schumacher will be stung by the comments on his responsibility, or lack of it, is a serious doubt.

But his bedtime reading could be a benefit.