Carlos Sainz Jr. turned heads during his appearance at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival as the Williams Racing driver attended red carpet events and celebrity gatherings alongside actors, models, and fellow L’Oréal Paris ambassadors.
Sainz attended the opening ceremony and screening of La Vénus Electrique at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès on May 12. The Spanish driver made a high-profile appearance on the red carpet alongside model Rebecca Donaldson during one of the festival’s most talked-about celebrity moments.
Ahead of L’Oréal Paris’ Lights on Women’s Worth dinner, Sainz spoke with PEOPLE about the women in his life who continue to support him throughout his Formula 1 career. “I have two sisters and a mom that have always taken great care of me,” Sainz said. The 31-year-old praised his mother, Reyes Vázquez de Castro, and sisters Ana and Blanca while reflecting on the importance of family amid the demands of the Formula 1 calendar.
He said, “I admire them greatly. Especially now that they’ve given me three beautiful nephews that I have to now take care of — and when I go back to Madrid, I enjoy my time with them.”
Sainz also opened up about the importance of supporting women through opportunity and visibility. “Respecting them, but also giving them the opportunity to shine and be successful in whatever discipline or thing they want to do in their lives. I’m lucky to have also a big platform on Instagram — and every time I can, I try to promote the women and help them to be successful.”
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The Cannes appearance came shortly after Sainz competed at the Miami Grand Prix during the ongoing Formula One season. As an official L’Oréal Paris ambassador, he also discussed his skincare routine while balancing race weekends and public appearances around the world. “The main one that I use on my day-to-day, daily routine is the L’Oréal Men Expert Hydra Energetic,” Sainz said. “That’s the moisturizer that I would put on after a shower pretty much every day of my life.”
He added that sunscreen remains an essential part of his routine during race weekends and outdoor appearances. “If I’m going to be exposed in the sun… then I will use the SPF 50 to protect myself,” he continued.
Carlos Sainz And Alia Bhatt’s Interaction Goes Viral On The Internet
One of the most widely shared moments from Carlos Sainz’s 2026 Cannes appearance came when he was spotted interacting with Indian actress Alia Bhatt during a celebrity gathering linked to the festival. Videos and photographs of the pair talking circulated widely on social media, drawing reactions from both Formula 1 and Bollywood fans. According to The Indian Express, Bhatt was also seen interacting with celebrities, including Heidi Klum, Jane Fonda, and Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu, during the event.
Reports from Mid-Day noted that fans online reacted strongly after clips of Sainz and Bhatt’s interaction surfaced during the festival. Bhatt attended the 2026 Cannes Film Festival as a global ambassador for L’Oréal Paris and appeared at several official events during the festival’s opening week.
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Sainz later described Cannes as becoming an increasingly important annual stop through his association with the beauty brand. “It’s an honor to be a L’Oréal Paris ambassador. There are so many other ambassadors that I’ve always seen on TV. I’ve always admired that when I come to Cannes, I get to meet and I get to hang out with.”
The 2026 Cannes Film Festival runs from May 12 through May 23, with L’Oréal Paris returning as the festival’s official makeup partner for the 29th year.
