Parc Ferme: The conversations of Formula 1 Kings

The nature of any discussion or engagement on track between these peers also tends to be at another level.

When most people consider Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton, they presume that there’s a level of animosity that runs so deep, it could never be negated.

However, they share more than most people would think. Neither appears to have a championship-winning car this year, and, ironically, their Montreal podium appearances were a ‘first’ for both in 2026.

Mercedes and McLaren are shared adversaries and they laughed and joked mercilessly together about the ‘Papaya’ intermediate-tyre choice clanger at the start of the race.

Both Hamilton and Verstappen have a similar view on the overly complex energy management system of the 2026 cars.

Verstappen famously argued, "Give us a rental car, we'll give you a good show," saying that F1 needs to be purer.

Hamilton backed up this point, stating that dealing with all the battery charging rules "doesn't feel like what motorsport should be".

However, it wasn’t just their racing values where they clearly shared an understanding. The Canadian Grand Prix saw plenty of overtaking during the race, most of it between Kimi Antonelli and George Russell.

However, most of them resulted from a mistake by one or the other driver or from algorithmically facilitated manoeuvres. Parc Ferme only recalls two real ‘send’ passes.

One by Max on the inside going into Turn 1, and the other by Lewis around the outside of the same corner. All other witnessed attempts by the rest of the field at this point on the track resulted in ‘fails’. Many were near collisions.

Compare and contrast with the two multiple F1 World Champions, who executed their maneuvers clinically, without threatening to send each other off into the scenery. They were 100% racing artistry by two masters.

With twelve World championships between them, their conversation in the Canadian cooldown room only served to highlight the rarefied altitude they now share. Discussion revolved around the finer points of their cars – the Ferrari was quicker through the corners, but the Red Bull was faster on the straights, together with the reasons for the difference.

Verstappen also openly complimented Hamilton on his driving at Turn 6, whilst they exchanged views on the bit players who came between them as they battled in the closing laps. 

Compare and contrast with Kimi Antonelli’s observation that he nearly filled his race suit with a scary ‘snap’ and how close they (Hamilton and Verstappen) were able to race.

Kimi may have won four races on the trot now, but he still doesn’t live on their level. You could see them both looking at him and thinking ‘one day, but not just yet…’