Direct from Cannes: Carlos Sainz chats filmmaking, skincare and self-belief

CANNES, at this time of year, is a curious place for a Formula One driver to spend his downtime. With the annual film festival beginning this week, the flashbulbs on the sultry French riviera are almost constant, and the crowds rarely stop craning their necks searching for someone famous – and more often than not, they’ll find what they’re looking for.

But despite there being very little relaxation to be had here, it’s among the film stars and fashion royalty that Esquire finds Formula One driver Carlos Sainz – but don’t worry, the Williams driver will still make the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix this weekend.

As you might suspect, Sainz is in town for the film festival. More specifically, he’s here because L’Oréal Paris, with whom he has recently partnered as an ambassador, is presenting the fifth edition of the Lights on Women’s Worth Award, which champions emerging female filmmakers. But, as the 31-year-old assures us, he’s not just here for the photo op; he genuinely cares about what the award stands for.

“I think it’s something that is very important, making women feel more empowered about everything they do, but especially in filmmaking” he says. “And comparing it to my world in Formula One, we’re following exactly the same trend of trying to bring young women into the sport and help them feel confident and passionate.”

In conversation, Sainz is a considered, composed presence. There’s no media-trained autopilot here, just a quiet confidence and a surprising willingness to admit that, despite all he’s accomplished, there are some things he’s still figuring out – including his skincare routine.

“If I’m honest, up until I started collaborating with L’Oréal Paris, I wasn’t very into skincare,” he says, with a sheepish shrug and a fleeting glance to someone out of view, as if to check if he’s allowed to say that. “Maybe just because I was younger and didn’t need to worry about it, I’ve always been a bit of a mess in that sense.”

But now? It’s a different story. Sainz has picked up the habit, and it’s become part of his daily routine. “I’ve been learning a lot about the products [L’Oréal Paris] have and I use them a lot now,” he says. “The Men Expert Hydra Energetic Vit C Serum is part of my day-to-day routine. Apart from that, I use the normal moisturiser in the morning, especially when I shave because I get really dry around [my face] and I try to moisturise as much as possible. And then every night before bed when I shower I use a cleanser.”

As for why he chose L’Oréal Paris out of all the brands he could’ve aligned with, Sainz’s answer is an honest one. “I was looking to partner with a brand that aligns with my values and the values that we pursue in Formula One, like a pioneering spirit, cutting-edge technology and always an innovative approach,” he says.

“And, a lot of my fans I saw were always commenting on my TikToks and on my Instagram all about my hair, my skin. I said ‘Ok, maybe it’s a good opportunity to partner with a brand in this area’,” he laughs.

Sainz isn’t overstating the devotion of his fans, a group that now numbers 11.3 million on Instagram. On Sainz’s post announcing his partnership with L’Oréal Paris, one of the top comments simply reads “amen”. Another states that “in Carlos Sainz hair we trust”. A particularly popular comment that earned a tidy 3,000 likes was more direct, venturing that Sainz’s “Face card never declines.” We can confirm that these comments don’t go unnoticed, and that Sainz is aware of the effect he has on his fans.

The Formula One calendar is relentless – with the competition running from March to December and totalling 24 races. If an F1 driver is to have some semblance of a work-life balance, they need to value their downtime. According to Sainz, he doesn’t always use his to attend film festivals, but he also doesn’t mind the busy schedule.

“I am honestly very lucky to say that I enjoy what I do. So even if I’m going to be extremely busy from here until Sunday, all of that busy-ness is going to be an enjoyment for me,” he says. But with that being said, he does still make time for himself. “When I get a few hours off what I like to do is some sport of any kind. If I have time to go cycling, I go cycling, or just for a short run. That makes me reset my mind and gives me a bit of time to think about my own stuff to focus or decompress.”

The emphasis on finding enjoyment lingers into our next conversation, when we ask Sainz if he has any advice he would give to his younger self. “To always try to enjoy everything you do,” he says. “I think it’s very easy to get caught up in the moment, going from one interview to another, from one session to another, from one race to another. So I would say give yourself time to stop and think and understand how lucky you are and try and be present. As I said, I’m doing exactly what I dreamed to do when I was 10-years-old.”

When prompted, Sainz has some difficulty in singling out one particular moment as his career highlight. We suppose that when you’ve had four Formula One wins, you could easily throw out any one of them as an answer and move on, but Sainz resists. “They’re all special,” he says. “Maybe the first one stands out, but also, even when I when I made my debut in Formula One that was already a huge milestone in my career. Every driver dreams about debuting in Formula One and when I finally made it and did my first race, that was huge for me.”

When we ask him what L’Oréal Paris’ slogan, ‘Because I’m Worth It’, means to him, Sainz doesn’t hesitate. “It’s a very empowering slogan,” he says. “The reality is that we are all worth it. Everyone, independently of what they do in their life or the stage they are in their life, they are worth it. I’ve always been a believer in this sort of thing, because in my own experience I’ve achieved a lot of the things that maybe 10-15 years ago I wouldn’t have even dreamed about achieving.”

It’s this quiet conviction that lingers after the conversation ends. Sainz may spend most of his year chasing fractions of seconds, but in Cannes, he’s clearly learned how to pause for just long enough to enjoy the moment. And maybe watch a movie or two.

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